Make Up Your Mind
Reposting Sermon of PastorTodd Boxley

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Washington, Maryland, Indiana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Indiana this week.

Have you ever been undecided about something? How long did it take you to come to your decision? Did it involve others? Did your decision cause division or conflict?

Since we are moving along through summer, many families are still undecided about where they will be vacationing. Have you ever gotten together with friends and had to decide where you would go to have a fun day?

I grew up in a family where we needed a judge and jury to help us decide where we would all go to have a fun day (Smile). Thank God we had parents who at times would tell us, “Just get in the car, and you’ll find out when we get there.”

Making up your mind can be exciting, or it can be frustrating. Have you ever told your spouse or children, “Make up your mind, we don’t have all day!” Have you ever waited on a family member or friend to decide which movie to attend?

What makes it so frustrating is, by the time you get to the theater, the movie has started. This undecided choosing leads to missing the previews and maybe figuring out the best time to go to the snack bar.

I have spoken to couples who couldn’t make up their mind whether they wanted to get married or stay single for another year. I remember a friend of mine who waited nine years to marry her boyfriend.

I remember asking her, “What are waiting to find out after nine years?” She told me he was unsure about settling down. I told her “Well, if his mind is still unstable after all these years, he’s probably not going to fully commit to the relationship.”

I believe there is a passage in the word of God that reads, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8 KJV). Please read the previous verses to gain the full understanding of where today’s message is going (James 1:6,7).

I asked my friend who was hoping to marry this gentleman, “After nine years you should know everything about his decision making.” She told me he just has cold feet about getting closer. “Well if his feet are cold after nine years, how will it take for you to thaw them out once you’re married?”

Some people just can’t seem to make up their minds about issues that affect their decision making. Some people are heartbroken because they waited too late to make up their mind.

Many people start off their day with indecision. My mother used to use the word capricious. She would say some people are fickle. It’s hard to count on people who are always unstable.

Whenever our families would get together for picnics, we would choose which family members would bring certain items. There was one person who my mother thought was unreliable when it came to bringing the items we needed to the picnic.

Looking at some common causes for why people cannot make up their mind, I came across a medical term. It’s called Aboulomania. I had never heard of this before now.

It is defined as someone having indecision and an inability to, or difficulty in, making any kind of choice in a person’s daily life. This significantly affects functioning, specifically the ability to function socially, making it difficult to maintain family and personal relationships.

Could be this was my friend’s issue on her fiancé after dating him nine years to see if his mind was made up. Why do people wait unnecessarily at the last minute to make decisions? Why do people procrastinate?

In the scientific world psychological research suggests that once our minds are made up on important matters, changing them can be as difficult as stopping a train hurtling at full speed, even when there’s danger straight ahead.

Sometimes our decision making is like superglue. We resist facts and get stuck in neutral on most topics. Most of us have a strong drive to hold on to pre-existing beliefs and convictions, which keep us anchored in the world.

We can’t make up our minds because our minds are not anchored to anything concretely resembling facts and truth. In today’s society you can identify as being whatever you choose for that day. Many people’s minds are like ships lost at sea.


We’ve all heard the phrase “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” The Bible has many things to say about our minds. Mind in the Hebrew (Leb) involves the heart, feelings, will, and intellect. (Numbers 16:28; Nehemiah 4:6).

Mind in the Greek (Nous) involves the intellect, the mind, in thought, feelings, and the will. (Romans 12:1,2). When our minds are focused on God, we seek after knowledge and wisdom
(Colossians 1:9,10; Proverbs 1:7; 4:7).

Today, your mind is in need of right thinking. This can be accomplished by focusing it on Jesus Christ. In doing so you learn unity, humility, joy, and peace. Right thinking also involves putting off and putting on. (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:5-11; Ephesians 4:17-24).

Unstable minds can never choose anything because their mind is not anchored to any truth. The gospel for wavering minds is the same way. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to the other side.”

Many people feel they have plenty of time to make a decision on whether they want to accept what the Bible says about salvation. They forget that the Bible tells us tomorrow is never promised (Matthew 6:34; Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15).

Many people with undecided minds (wishy-washy) on the message of the cross and salvation are living on borrowed time. They have no idea of their future destination, people call the “afterlife.”

Many skeptics shout out the question “Why should I?” They put themselves on God’s time of grace. But like all things on this earth, time eventually runs out. Here’s the simple answer to those who don’t believe in God, Jesus, or life after death.



Time eventually runs out on your natural life. Everyone eventually dies and goes into the dirt and dust of the earth. However, everyone on earth has something called a soul. God created the soul with his own breath (Genesis 2:7).

Since God is eternal and has neither a beginning nor an ending. His breath gave everlasting life to Adam. The body is a lifeless shell until God brings it alive with his breath of life. The life you have comes from God’s Spirit.

God created the universe and the earth, and all the souls on the planet. (Psalm 24:1). It is God who chose to give us the mysterious and miraculous gift of life. But because one act of disobedience (sin), brought death (Adam’s seed), all people die (Genesis 2:16,17).

Some people may wonder, why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to stay away from it? Because real love doesn’t use force to coerce someone to obey or follow you.

Would you want to marry someone who forced you into saying marriage vows and words “I do?” Your relationship would be doomed from the start. When two people come into a marital relationship, they do so mutually together.

God placed the two trees in the garden as an object lesson of choice, obedience, and genuine love. Today, I’m trying to make this message as simple as I can. This message is for those who are living an “Humpty Dumpty” lifestyle.

Many people know there’s a greater power than themselves, they just are reluctant to surrender their life to him. They sit on that wall of life listening to everyone who comes by while rolling closer to the edge of spiritual death for their soul.

Once the soul dies in an unregenerated state, there is no putting it back together (just like Humpty Dumpty). The soul continues to live after death. It will continue to think, speak, see, hear, get thirsty and remember everything.


The first time I saw this video about the fires of Hell, one pastor said some of his congregation came up to him and said, “Hey pastor, that video scared the hell out of me!” He said, “Great! Isn’t that the point.” If hell has not engulfed you, then heaven can fill you.

Your soul is the most important thing on this earth. Making up your mind about eternal life is not that difficult a choice once you realize what’s at stake. Jesus spoke a great deal about the soul and hell.

The problem is, no one ever thinks about his soul. That’s because we come into this world wrapped in sin and spiritual blindness. Satan works overtime to try to keep you from coming to the light of truth so your spiritual eyes will be open. (2 Corinthians 4:3-6; John 8:12; 9:39; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 2:11).

David said these words after his fall with Bathsheba. “Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5 KJV). David didn’t use his sin as an excuse, he acknowledged how important his relationship was with God.

God forgave David, and their relationship was restored. People sometimes carry around great burdens of guilt thinking God won’t forgive them of what they’ve done. No sin is too great to be forgiven.
God can and will forgive you of any sin if you ask him to and turn from it. He will cleanse and purify you.

Please read aloud to yourself what God says about eradicating sin from your life. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Micah 7:19; Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:9-14). A sea of forgetfulness represents a place where our sins are sent very far away from us, so that they can no longer affect us.

Many people who have procrastinated on their own soul by rejecting their only hope of eternal life are weeping real tears from a place of torment from which there is no escape. God has been warning the world of this place since creation.



The plan of salvation is God’s choosing. There are not ten different religions or ten different books, or ten different steps to get to eternal life. Making up your mind about Christ is about surrendering your life to him.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV).

25} “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25, 26 KJV).

Jesus left heaven for broken people and those who may be straddling the fence of life (Luke 4:18-21). He isn’t just like another religious guy. He sits above Allah, Buddha, and the pope. Jesus created the universe and everything in it.

Please read the following verses aloud to your soul (John 1:1-5; 14:1-3;  Colossians 1:13-22). Because Jesus is God he is able to keep your soul from ending up in the lake of fire (Revelation 2:11; 19:20; 20:10-15).

Some people are deceived by other religions and Satan believing that we are all God’s children and that a loving God would never send anyone to hell. Please understand my beloved, God doesn’t send anyone to hell.

When people reject Jesus (the only source of redemption) they send themselves to hell. The narrow road is narrow but it’s still wide enough for all who receive Jesus to walk on it.

Earlier I spoke about Adam and the seed of sin passed on to us. So, by nature (flesh) we are Adam’s children not God’s. We are created by God but separated from him by sin (Romans 5:8-12; 17-21; Galatians 3:26-29).

[When we are joined with Jesus in (salvation) baptism, we put on his righteousness like new clothes (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:23-24). We take up a new identity and a new nature.]

Someone once uttered the words “What have you got to lose?” Well, Jesus came along and said, 35} “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:35-37 KJV).

What deal can you make with someone who owns everything? God is the owner of every soul on earth. But because
of Adam’s sin seed passed on to us, we are therefore spiritually children of the devil (Romans 5:19; John 8:43-45; Ezekiel 18:4).

Every unbelieving soul is eventually going to face Jesus in Judgement. Those who die in their sins will stand before him at the Great White Throne Judgement. God’s books will be opened. (Revelation 20:15; 21:8).

True authentic born-again believers will not appear at the Great White Throne Judgement. Only unbelievers will appear before the Great White Throne judgement. Only Christians will stand at the Judgement seat of Christ. (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:9,10; Revelation 22:12).

@The judgment seat of Christ involves a time in the future when believers will give an account of themselves to Christ. unbelievers. As Jesus taught in his parable, the king is going to return, at which time he will require an account from his servants (Luke 19:11–26). @

[While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), each of us will still be judged by Christ. This judgment will reward us for how we have lived.

God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience. All Christians must give an account on the Day of Judgment for how they have lived (see Matthew 16:27; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).]

Jesus left heaven to come to sinful humanity simply because he loves us. (1 John 3:1; 4:9-11). He has presented the truth to me and you. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV).

When Jesus came to this earth, he loved his creation, but they rejected him. There are still many today who hate Christianity and hate Jesus. But Jesus fulfilled his mission. He gave his life for them anyway. (John 3:16; 15:13, 25; Acts 20:28).




Today, for those of you sitting on the fence of your life, the only way to have assurance of eternal life is to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:8-13). If you value life, then your soul is valuable to God.

Trust Jesus alone to save your soul. If you turn from sin and pray right now and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life, he will. This is the only way your soul can be saved from the lake of fire.

Some people think they have a lifetime to eat, drink, party, and live like there’s no tomorrow. Well that no tomorrow is coming, and it could be today. We just went through a pandemic where those who made plans for 2023 are no longer here.

This is not a message of fear for those teetering about their indecision whether to believe what the Bible says about heaven and hell. Your soul will live forever, but your destination will determine what you decide about Jesus.

Don’t think because it’s a free gift (salvation) you have time to accept it. You’re not even guaranteed the next ten minutes of your life. Many of you, I’m sure have received a phone call telling you your favorite relative has passed away.

You were filled with surprise and grieve because you had just seen them and they were the picture of health. The Bible speaks about trying to live past tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15; Matthew 6:33,34).

Don’t be fooled by what you might think is normal in the country as usual. Look around, things have changed drastically in the last 20-40 years. The world is not as safe as it used to be.

Jesus is still coming again. Yes, people will continue to hold on to a world that God says is going to be destroyed with a fervent heat. (2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; John 5:28,29).

True believers know and understand this world is a temporary home. We shall live with Jesus in the new heaven and new earth. (John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-7). But God’s wrath is coming to all who rejected him. Revelation 3:10-13; 6:15-17; 16:1-16).

Great tribulation is coming. Jesus spoke about coming events (Matthew 24:21-27). If you don’t make up your mind and heart, Satan will make it up for you, but he’ll destroy your soul in the process (John 10:10; Revelation 14:9-11).

There is no middle or neutral ground when it comes to making up your mind about whether your soul is lost. You can trust Jesus right now for the sacrifice he made for your sins and receive his gift of salvation.

Many people today still scoff at God’s offer of eternal life and shout “Why should I?” Well, without Jesus you are spiritually dead inside. You might not think so, but Satan has blinded your spirit from seeing the truth that sets you free.

This same scenario played out with a man named King Agrippa. Paul had experienced his own deliverance in meeting Jesus. Beginning with a compliment to Agrippa, he told his testimony(story), including the resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s mission was to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:1-23).

Paul was risking his life for a message that was offensive to the Jews and unbelievable to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). Jesus had received the same response to his message (Mark 3:21; John 10:20).

When it comes to people hearing the truth, there’s always that one skeptic that destroys the moment when the seed of truth is ready to be planted. Thus was the case with a man named Festus (Acts 26:24).

Today many people reject God because the masses say Christians are crazy, fanatic, pushy, and lunatics. Being called a Jesus freak, I wear it as an honor to the Lord. King Agrippa heard Festus shout those words at Paul.

Going along with the in-crowd could keep your soul out of heaven. Agrippa responded to Paul’s presentation with a sarcastic remark. He sat on that teetering seesaw of life and death and without realizing it, chose death. (Acts 26:28).

There is no such thing as “I’m sort of a Christian” or I’m halfway a Christian. A woman I knew at church before becoming a pastor told me one day, “People who try to live on the fence, have one foot on a banana peel and the other foot in the grave.”

Paul made a personal appeal to which he hoped all his listeners would respond. Christians should always stick to the facts when sharing the gospel with an undecided mindset.

[During Paul’s time people were still alive who had heard Jesus and seen his miracles; the empty tomb could still be visited; and the Christian message was turning the world upside down (17:6).]

If you have loved ones who haven’t made up their minds about accepting Jesus as Lord, continue to love on them with compassion and respect. Real love never pushes or forces itself on anyone.

People will continue to reject and scoff at supernatural events and any assertion that there is only one absolute way of truth. For some people, the good news presents a risk that they may have to give up everything. 

They are afraid they will have to forfeit relationships, position, reputation, habits, and possessions in order to embrace a promise they can’t clearly see. This is why it is so hard for many to come to Jesus.

They think they will lose everything if they come to Jesus, but in reality, they will gain everything, eternal life. Paul said it best. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).

Paul understood what he lost and what he had gained in having a relationship with Jesus. 7} “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:7,8 KJV).

Please read Paul’s powerful witness confirming his credentials and how they meant nothing to earn eternal life. (Philippians 3:4-14).

Paul showed that human achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot earn a person salvation and eternal life with God. After his conversion Paul found out that Jesus was the prize he lived for.

🗣📢 Last words: Remember my friends, you exist only because God made you, and you have special gifts only because God gave them to you. With God you are something valuable and unique.

Apart from God you are nothing. If you try to live without him, you will be abandoning the purpose for which you were made. The Bible says, “Now is the time of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Many people put off a decision for Christ, thinking that there will be a better time. But time eventually stops ticking in your heart. Death comes to all of us. Your opportunity to receive Jesus could be missed.

There is no better time than the present to receive God’s forgiveness. Don’t let anything hold you back from coming to Jesus. The gospel is so simple to receive that people think there must be more to receive forgiveness other than just repentance.

You don’t have to prove yourself to God and do works to show him you have earned eternity. Your works by itself cannot earn you salvation. Church attendance won’t grant you entrance.

Just saying repeated prayers, doing penance, giving large amounts of money will not grant you entrance into heaven. Many churches and denominations make the gospel complicated just like the Pharisees and Sadducees did with all their extra rules and legalism (Mark 10:17-22; John 3:3; Matthew 7:21-23).

God looks at humbled hearts who simply cry out to him and say “Lord be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13,14). Going to seminary, receiving many degrees to hang on your wall, having the most impressive credentials fall short of God’s holy standards (John 3:3).

Are you depending on Christian parents, church affiliation, or just being good to make you right with God? Credentials, accomplishments, or reputation cannot earn salvation. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus.

If your life is half-full and half-empty at the same time, you could be putting your soul in danger. There’s no such life as a half-saved Christian life. The product of a growing relationship with God is getting and staying filled up with his amazing love (Ephesians 4:6; 5:18-21; Colossians 1:26-28).

Once you’ve made up your mind to give your heart to God, don’t dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience.

You got your mind made up? Ok then, look forward to the prize of heaven!

🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to make up your mind. “Heavenly Father, I get so confused about what I’m doing with my life. There are so many things pulling against my thoughts.

I want to believe in you, but I’m afraid of what others might think. I know you are alive, and I keep running into people who seem to be so alive and free in describing you. I want that realism of love in my life.

Lord, please break up the hard soil in my mind and heart. Forgive me of my sins. I don’t want any more walls blocking me from believing in you. Help me to choose you alone. I realize I cannot serve two masters in my mind.

I submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, and I command you, spirits of double-mindedness, leave me now in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Lord, I repent for negative, unbelieving words that I have spoken over myself and my loved ones.

I declare the head of the serpent that caused spiritual Indecisiveness and deafness in my life be crushed according to (Genesis 3:15) in the name of Jesus. Lord, break the spirit of stupor and release clarity, focus, and healing in my divided mind. (Isaiah 26:3,4; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5).

Thank you Jesus for freeing my mind to choose your abundant life. (2 Timothy 1:7). Place a hunger in me for more of your presence. I have decided fully to follow you the rest of my life, in Jesus’ name, amen.”


#Here’s a homework assignment to get your brain filled up with spiritual nourishment. See if you find the answers to these questions. You’ll need a Bible to search for them.

1) Why should I pray? (Talk to God).

2) Why should I read the Bible?

3) Why should I go to church?

4) Why should I love other believers?

5) Why should I love my unsaved family members or friends and tell them about God’s love?



*Help spread the word by sharing this web site and messages on your platform.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry, TJforlife.com