By David Wright
God gave our first parents freedom of choice. In the tropical paradise of Eden, they were permitted to decide for themselves whether to heed the divine warning concerning the forbidden tree. This freedom to choose between right and wrong has come down to all of Adam and Eve’s children.
Some choices, though, lie beyond human grasp. For instance, people cannot choose to be neutral toward Jesus. Some men and women have no desire to embrace the Christian life, but neither do they relish the idea of being counted among Satan’s black sheep. So, they decide to be neutral, neither for Christ nor against him. This is impossible, however. The Lord himself says that “he who is not with me is against me” (Luke 11:23). The refusal to love Jesus and honor him above all else puts a person at enmity with God—whether he intends it or not.
Choosing the consequences of sin is also beyond human power. A man can choose to toss a stone into a pond, but he cannot choose for that action to produce no ripples. Similarly, he can choose to disregard the will of God but cannot control the results. Paul explains that “God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption” (Gal. 6:7-8). A husband can decide to lie to his wife but cannot stop the ensuing anger and distrust from corrupting his marriage. A woman can choose to gossip about a coworker but is powerless to control the resulting strife and retaliation corrupting the workplace.
God has given people the liberty to make decisions for themselves, but this freedom has limits. Man chooses his conduct; God chooses the consequences. Man chooses his own path in this life; God determines what will happen in the next.
