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Mar 05, 2020 14:00pm

Choice

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Sometimes when I wake up, the first thing I do is look at Facebook before going to the Lord in prayer.

When it comes to food, I have no self-control. I have horrible acid reflux, so I really should be careful. But instead, I overeat, choose foods that are not healthy for me and complain when I feel sick after eating them.

When it comes to gossiping, I say I’m not going to talk about a situation or issue, and there I am, telling about it, and probably to the one I know I shouldn’t be telling it to.

I smack my head every time. I think, “Why? Why did I just do that?”

I instantly regret it. I regret it sometimes because of guilt from being caught. But more times than not, it’s guilt from my own conscience. Conviction from the Holy Spirit hits me hard.

I make bad choices. But I can also make good choices.

Yesterday, I chose not to have a soda with caffeine in the afternoon, even though I felt I desperately needed it.

I chose to lift someone up instead of tearing them down when they came to me with a problem and a hurting heart.

These aren’t to toot my own horn; I am only pointing out we have the capability to choose good and bad.

The point is, we have a choice. And we are free to make that choice. God designed us that way.

It’s called freewill.

How do I know this? Let’s dive into Genesis and find out.

Genesis 2:15-17
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’”

God knows everything. So, why did God put the tree in the garden if He knew man would choose to eat it?

Freewill. He gave man a choice.

God wanted Adam to obey, no question there. But if Adam was not given a choice, he would have been a prisoner in the garden, forced to be there and forced to obey.

Example: I do not want a husband that is forced to love me. I want him to choose to love me. There is far greater devotion and desire when someone chooses to love.

We are the bride of Christ. Jesus is our bridegroom. God wants us to choose Him. Throughout Scripture we see this theme.

Abraham was forced to choose between his son and God. Abraham chose God by being willing to sacrifice his only son. God provided an innocent sacrifice in place of Isaac, and Abraham’s love was demonstrated.

God allows us the freedom to choose Him.

Adam was given that same choice.

So why then don’t we choose God every time if we love Him? Paul said it this way in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”

Our choices also mean consequences.

Some are small, but some can be huge and life-altering. We learn and grow from those mistakes, but we can also learn from the mistakes of others. That is why it’s vital to study the Scriptures. We see time and time again, people who loved God, but chose the wrong thing. We can see those who were stubborn and would not repent and then we see those who recognize their sin and turn from it!

We have a choice.

Just as Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)