Free To Choose
As we arrived on this earth (were born), we were free. This means we were free of sin, as we are born innocent. When Adam and Eve were created, they were without sin. Genesis 3:5 clearly indicates that the serpent knew of Eve’s innocence, because he told her, 1) she would not die if they disobeyed God. 2) That if she ate of the forbidden fruit, she would then know the difference between good and evil. He also knew that man was created with the freedom to choose. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Satan had placed temptation before Eve, because he knew she was free to choose. From that time forward, Satan has used temptation against man, because it worked so well against the first man and woman. This temptation placed before Eve, brought about sin because she made poor choice. The eldest son of Adam and Eve also made poor choice. Cain chose to bring an offering contrary to what God had Commanded. We read of Cain’s first recorded sin in Genesis 4:3-5. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Then in Genesis 4:7a, we see where God told Cain how man’s choices lead one of two ways. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. We see that Cain didn’t learn, as he let his anger rule over him, and as a result in Genesis 4:8 Cain killed his brother. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. This choice also caused Cain to “depart from God’s presence” and make his own way in the world. He chose to not follow God.
When God delivered the nation of Israel, His Old Testament people, from Egyptian bondage, they also were given the same choice. Because they failed to serve God faithfully, they were sentenced to wandering in the wilderness for forty years. All those above the age of twenty when they departed Egypt, except for Joshua and Caleb, died in that wilderness because of their choice. The faithful servant Moses led Israel as the Lord directed, all the way to the edge of the Promised Land, and had also delivered them God’s Law. We can read in Deuteronomy 30:15-16, not long before Moses died, God had him tell Israel how they could benefit from making the correct choice. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Then, in Deuteronomy 30:19 the Spirit had Moses tell them what their choices were. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
This same choice is available today, in this, the final dispensation of time. Christ came and died on Calvary’s cross, that we might have life. This is shown clearly in John 10:10b by the Lord Himself. He said: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. However, before anyone can have that life that Jesus promised and died for, one must make the right choice. In Matthew 11:28, we again read the Words of Jesus as He extended the invitation. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This “rest” that the Lord offers is only available if we choose properly. One can have the Salvation Christ promised, but only if they obey the gospel, and then continue to remain faithful to God in accordance with His New Testament Word. This is clear from Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The simple fact that Salvation is offered to “everyone” proves each is free to choose.
John 3:16 is another well-known passage declaring that all have choice. It is frequently misquoted, and often misapplied. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It is also stated in 1John 4:9 that one may have this life “through Him”. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. In John 3:5, before the great Sacrifice of Christ’s blood on Calvary’s cross was offered, Jesus told Nicodemus how one can be “born free” spiritually. He said: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Make choice – the right choice today – be “born free” in water and the Spirit, (be baptized), and then faithfully serve so you can remain free. We read in Romans 6:16 that choice of whom we serve, leads to a destination. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Be born free, and then continue to follow the Word to remain free.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
