Life is really composed of series of choices. We make them continuously throughout the day even though we’re probably not aware that we are actually making those decisions. We choose to get up or stay in bed, to eat or not, to go out or stay in, to work or not, to socialize or not, etc. Our entire life is made up of choosing.
Overall most of the choices we make are of little consequence. And most are made because we all in all know what should be done. We know we have to eat, to get out, to work, and to do what is needed to sustain ourselves, but do you ever consider that much of what we must decide came about because initially mankind made the wrong decision.
Initially mankind apparently didn’t need to know how to make decisions. Everything was provided and right or wrong was not a question. It was only after that first decision was made, where mankind to follow Satan rather than abide by God’s instruction, that man’s decisions became more critical. Once man had to choose between right and wrong, then choices became more important and serious
The Bible gives many examples of this and in fact is really a commentary on the choices men have made over the years. From the first choice in Genesis of hiding in the garden from God - “…I was naked; and I hid myself.’ And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?’ (Genesis 3:10-11) - to the last book in the Bible, it tells of the need to make right choices. Having the knowledge of good and evil endowed us with the right to have the free will to make decisions.
Since we made our choice to follow Satan’s way God reacted saying that “…‘Because you have…eaten from the tree which I commanded you saying ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake…”(Genesis 3:17) and so the necessity of making correct choices was established. Since that time, mankind has continued to make poor decisions. The Bible gives a litany of poor decisions and their outcomes and as well of God’s attempt to modify mankind’s ways and correct his choices. From the problems mentioned above through the times of the Judges and Kings, it’s reported time and again how the choice to follow God’s direction has led to prosperity and the choice to abandon that way has led in turn to a time of paucity. Wars were lost and the nation of Israel suffered.
Individuals also were not spared. King David prospered while he followed God, but he and his family suffered after he betrayed God’s law and became involved with Bathsheba. Solomon was promised a long life “So if you will walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments…then I will lengthen your days” (1 Kings 3:14). But Solomon did not keep to the proper path and deviated from God’s instruction and apparently died at the age of about 60.
The New Testament also is filled with warnings about the need to choose correctly and to avoid the pitfalls of bad decisions. Hebrews itself contains five warnings about wrong decisions. Chapter 2:1-4 is about not neglecting great salvation; Chapter 3:17-4:13 talks about not hardening your hearts. Chapter 5:6-12 discusses how we should not neglect learning the Word and Chapter 10:26 says that we should not “sin wilfully”. Finally, Chapter 12:25 tells us not to fail to listen when we hear God speak.
It all follows God’s statement in Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
It all boils down to a choice: to follow God or not, to accept Christ’s sacrifice or not, to believe in God’s Word or not. The choice is ours and it’s a choice we all must make.
So, blessings or curses, life or death it really shouldn’t be a hard choice if you think about it.
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