Make a Decision
The choice is always yours; exercise your Free Will and decide with wisdom.
Forgive me for invading your thoughts about the imagery you see here. I know that you have already found many thoughts filling you mind as you look at this scene. How often have we found ourselves facing a choice between pathways? Here we see a dark and a lighter pathway. What would cause us to choose one over the other? Perhaps we know what lies down the dark path; our cabin, that favorite fishing hole or…? The lighter path can lead to various places too, some to our benefit or…? We can guess, we can deduce, we can rely on instinct or prior knowledge or a combination thereof. We get to exercise our choice; our Fee Will comes into play here almost unnoticed but is a part of our decision making none the less.
I know that elsewhere I have said that we are what we do. What we do is based on decisions, and however subtle, they have effects, consequences. Stand, sit or run, each brings a different result. We do this endlessly every day. Sometimes we take a little time to decide, but more often than not we act out of habit. We are making choices. Take time to consider the results of you decisions.
The Term Free Will is not In Scripture
If not, then where do we get this term that so many Christians hold on to so dearly? It has been discussed by philosophers and theologians since Christ arrived. Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Descartes and so many others have held up the idea of being able to make choices (without outside intervention) meeting our own interpretation. Along the way the words, “Free Will” became the term for mankind’s ability to choose the relationship they would have with God. These people worked with inductive and deductive reasoning and critical thinking. Their pamphlets, letters and books all included the conclusion that mankind had free will, the ability to decide his course of living. You must participate in making a decision.
Let us start with Adam and Eve. Created beings they were given one rule; “do not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge” and if you do you will die. A rule with a consequence. Infers at the very least that a choice is available. Otherwise, why the rule and why a consequence. Along with that we have the 10 Commandments given to God by Moses. More rules with consequences for violation.
Our Violation of God’s Rules is Sin
“1 John 3:4 “Everyone who commits sin practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
Joshua 24:15a “If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose this day for yourselves whom you will serve …”
God has not compelled us to do anything. Consider the following Scripture verses …
“Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 ESV
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 ESV
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:53 ESV
In which of these Scripture quotes do we see anything but choosing. These are “if, then” declarations. One must pick from the choices offered. Action is required; yet the reader/listener can remain on the fence. A decision to remain static is a choice and it defers to the negative result. Regardless of the title used mankind has to choose which actions to take and then receive the result.
Please excuse my simple analogy, but you cannot have the money you walk by unless you pick it up. Until it is in your hand you do not have it. God does not make you decide, you are responsible for that. If God does make you decide then you are a robot, an automaton. Like a train on a track, you cannot move without an outside force, and you may not choose your direction. The rails become your guide and you have no participation. You are worse than an idiot, because even an idiot has the ability to choose.
Without the freedom to choose we are hopeless. No choice means just that, no choice. We become no better than a windblown leaf.
Moses speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:15-16 CEV “Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success or death and disaster. I am commanding you to be loyal to the Lord, to live the way he has told you, and obey His laws and teachings.” They made their choices and decided to not obey God and reaped the reward of dying in the desert. They choose to ignore Moses and God willingly.
We do have Free Will to make decisions. Heed the instructions, promises and warnings of God and His Son. Choose now whom you will serve!
Free will exists in all the decisions we make!
”The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgements were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from iniquity. Therefore, the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.” Psalm 18:20-24 NKJV
This Psalm is from King David with thanksgiving for deliverance by God.
Jesus Loves Me
A hymn for children that is suitable for any believer man, woman or child. Written by Anne & Susan Warner 1860.
Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me, He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide.
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
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No sound can be sweeter than that a child of God singing with love and devotion. Angels cannot match it. Praise God in every way you can for the gift of His precious Son. Sing with all the love you can muster! And never forget that you decide your fate by choosing Christ as your personal Savior!
