Choices

By Pauline Foreman

Often we have too many choices, they're daily - choices, choices, choices, bringing perplexity. Which way do I turn? Which path do I choose? Options are the list of many from which you make your selection. If there's only one thing to eat, you're reduced to one choice - eat, or not eat.

Why does God want us to choose? He knows ahead of time what we will do. He made everything that is and He saw that it was good. He formed man from the dust of the ground in His own image, then breathed the breath of life into him, and man became a living soul. ("Male and female created He them.") Nothing else in creation had this living soul. Animals have no choice; they are what they are. Being created in God's likeness meant the power of choice and dominion over all else, but not dominion over man. The only forbidden thing was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (A choice.) The consequences of disobedience were made clear. But the choice was man's.
The tree of life - caused one to live.
The tree of knowledge - caused one to die.

Cain and Abel also had a choice in the matter of a sacrifice that would please God.

God gave us the power of choice to show that His love was unconditional. Consequences, yes. But whatever you choose, He will still love you. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, He clothed them with animal skins -- covered their sin with a blood sacrifice. God drove them from the garden because if they had continued to live there and eat of the tree of life, they would live forever in sin. So He barred the way to the tree of life.

The ground was cursed -- it would require sweat and blood to eke out a living for Adam, Eve, and their posterity. Eve's conception was multiplied and would be full of sorrow. The serpent was cursed above all animals -- forever to crawl on its belly and be at enmity with Eve and humanity in general.

Jesus' death on the cross was proof of His love. (Romans 8:38-39) You cannot separate Him from His love. God knows the heart's thoughts and intents. You can't hide anything from God.

Many things affect our choices; fear, ignorance, willfulness, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life, peer pressure, (fear of man,) feelings, perceptions, time pressure, and our experiences. Even when we make the wrong choice/s, "...He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

Look at the lives of the Three Hebrew Children, Joseph, and Moses. (Hebrews 11:13-14) Study them carefully and prayerfully. Obedience to the Word of God helps us make the right choice/s.