Phyllis E. VanBuren: Time for choosing

Folk singer and activist Pete Seger wrote a protest song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” in 1959. Seger used the term “season” for a time of conflicting actions, using the verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 almost verbatim.

For Christians, verse 1 outlines the foundation of life — “For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.”

The remaining verses posit a series of contrasts, as Seger noted. Each day offers a series of contrasts from which we choose our path.

Ronald Reagan delivered a speech in October 1964 known as “A Time for Choosing.” He contrasted the visions of the Founders in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States with the reality of the nation nearly 50 years ago.

The choice was to limit government and increase individual liberty or become more dependent on bigger government to provide for citizens. The citizens voted and made their choice. The Great Society grew out of the results of that mid-'60s election, replacing self-sufficiency with dependency on Big Brother.

That legacy haunts us today with burgeoning government spending and deficits that impede individual choices and responsibilities. Are we still willing/able to make sacrifices in these challenging times to guarantee the “inalienable Rights” for future generations?

“Choosing” began in the Garden of Eden. In that earthly paradise, there was no conflict until the crafty Serpent offered Eve a choice — obediently follow God’s command or eat the apple and know the difference between Good and Evil. God’s people capitulated.

When God confronted Adam and Eve, they chose to lie and deceive. They blamed another being, denying personal accountability.

Since humans knew the difference between good and evil, a compassionate God banned them from the Garden with a promise of a Savior — to become the sacrificial lamb for mankind and to destroy Satan. God chose a way to redeem His disobedient children. Jesus would die so that mankind could again achieve eternal life. That produced another choice — people choose to accept or deny God.

This coming week — Holy Week — is filled with many of the “seasons” from Ecclesiastes.

God chose to send Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, to live a sinless life while knowing the happiness and pain of humans. He laughed. He cried. He healed. He was hungry but resisted Satan for forty days as He began His earthly ministry. He came to seek and save the Lost. He loved all but hated their sins.

On Palm Sunday, sunlight abounded. People proclaimed Christ as king — an earthly king. A dark cloud was also present; Jesus knew that He was to be the Sacrificial Lamb that week. What if Christ had refused the cross?

In Gethsemane, Christ asked his father to remove “the cup” from Him if God, the father, so willed. He gave the choice to his father. He prayed that petition three times. What if God had granted his prayer? What would that have meant for us all?

From the cross, God’s Son declared “It is finished” as he died for us, announcing that redemption was complete. What if God had rescued Christ from the cross?

Since the beginning of time, the contrast of darkness and light has been a theme. The Triune God created light — the sun and the moon — to end the darkness. As shepherds tended their sheep at night, the light from the angels broke the darkness. The star guided the magi to Bethlehem to worship the babe.

Holy Week started in the light of the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday into Jerusalem. In darkness, Christ prayed in the garden. In darkness, Roman soldiers arrested him after the “dark” kiss of betrayal by Judas Iscariot. The trials to condemn Christ the king began in the darkness of night. When Christ died, the earth became dark.

On Easter morn, the sun rose again with bright light because there was again hope — the son had risen.

Believers await Christ’s return in light and glory to escort them to the eternal light of heaven.

Unbelievers will find themselves in the darkness of the pit.

It’s a time for choosing, and that’s not the political elections. It’s time to choose an eternal residence.

— This is the opinion of Times Writers Group member Phyllis E. VanBuren, a lifelong learner and enthusiastic educator, who values family, friends, faith, honesty, liberty and integrity. Her column is published the fourth Sunday of the month.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Phyllis E. VanBuren: Time for choosing