Freedom of Choice

“God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Genesis 3:3

I believe one of God’s deepest longings, besides for us to be covered in the blood of His Son, is the longing of true obedience and choice.

There is nothing greater than when love is expressed through a person’s choosing to do so. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden He could have very easily left the tree of knowledge of good and evil out, but He didn’t. He placed it there and even made them aware of its presence and the importance of not eating from it-death.

I believe the Lord did not do it to set up Adam and Eve for failure but simply for the longing that His first, most precious, valued creations would willfully choose to obey Him. He still to this day gives us the choice to serve Him, to obey Him, to love Him, and to choose the most precious gift- life, through Jesus Christ. Yet even in the midst of His deepest longing, He has given us the choice, the freedom to choose opposite of Him.

How often I wish that God would make the choices for me, for then I would be sure not to fail, or sin, but in doing that I would miss out on the importance of His mercy, grace, and love. I would be less dependent upon my deepest need for a Savior, and I would be stunted in my knowledge and wisdom of the most amazing Creator.

When I willfully choose to obey God, I am choosing to meet the deepest longing of my Father. I am choosing to not eat from the sin and enticement of the world, or even touch what it puts in front of me.

Oh, what great rewards await all those who choose to obey God and what sad consequences maybe even death await those who choose to disobey.

Prayer: Lord forgive me for all the times I have chosen to disobey You. Thank You for bringing Your word to life within me and for daily removing the veil as I search deeper into knowing, pleasing and become more like You. Amen