Isaiah 45:22 -- On Choosing God

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:22 What this sparked for me today is the idea that we so often think that we can customize our faith... believe in part of the gospel, or certain aspects of God, while rejecting the parts that we don't understand or don't like. This scripture helps us to understand that customization isn't an option. Although the Lord definitely loves us individually and will bless us and teach us in individual ways, he isn't a changeable God that bends to *our* wills. We definitely have a choice in life, but it isn't between aspects of God or principles of the gospel. It is God or Satan. There is one path to salvation, and "none else." We of course have choice and individual opportunities to learn and grow and serve others, but today let's remember that there is only one place to look to be saved. Let's make sure that we do that. God will help us to understand all the things that we don't yet understand, and help us change our hearts if we are willing to give up our souvenirs of hell, but let's not try opting out of commandments or commitment to the gospel... if we end up not wanting part of God, then that means we won't want part of heaven, and that means choosing something worse. Instead let's go straight to God with any concerns, and he will help us understand and learn about those things... and as we learn and we're open to adapting to God's views rather than expecting him to adapt to ours, we will eventually learn how things fit together better, and that God is wiser than we are, even in that thing that is bothering us.