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We need to be a people of a well-ordered heart.  In other words, as Dallas Willard said:

“People who are prepared for and capable of responding to the situation of life in ways that are good and right.”

Regardless of whether or not our western culture is revitalized or falls into an abyss, what matters is the character of our hearts –  so that no matter what happens externally, we remain steadfastly virtuous internally.  This is how we can avoid being a victim of circumstance when it comes to our character.

Another key point to remember comes from – surprisingly – Friedrich Nietzsche:

“The essential thing in heaven and earth is that there should be a long obedience in the same direction.  Three thereby results and always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

You see, life is a long obedience in the same direction.

The decisions and actions we make today have an effect on our decisions, actions and relationships in the future.  Therefore, the most important decision you can make is NOT what am I going to do someday, but what am I going to do next?

Your dreams merely aim you in a particular direction.  It’s your decisions that make a difference in who you are and who you will become.

So the question becomes:  Can you make your next decision well?

Take the sad story of Dr. Kermit Gosnell.  For over 30 years, he made millions of dollars while running a horrific late term abortion business. Once investigators finally looked into his business they found – in their words – a house of horrors.

Finally sentenced to life in prison for killing viable babies, he stood at his sentencing wondering why he was even on trial.  He had done it for so long with no one pointing out his wrongdoings that he thought he was actually doing right.

You see, no only do individuals live a long obedience in the same direction, but so do cultures.

Our culture chose obedience in the direction of death.  Therefore, to question an abortion doctor was to question abortion itself, and we can’t do that.  So Gosnell went uninvestigated for over 30 years – repeatedly breaking the law and murdering live babies on his operating table.

So here’s the takeaway:  How do you become the sort of person who makes the RIGHT NEXT DECISION?