Choices

God is the author of life. He created the heavens and the earth and he created us. When we create something, we can do what we want with our creation. It belongs to us and we decide what it is to be, how it is to look and what its purpose will be. We are God's creation. He is the potter and we are the clay. The potter works, the clay is formed. He decided to form us into his likeness. He decided that we would rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over all the earth. He decided that we would have a hand in filling the earth. He decided that, like him, we would be holy. All that he had made was "very good". (Genesis 1)

He also decided that we would be able to make choices. By putting the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden, God gave us the ability to choose. He loved us so much that he even told us the choice to make - "you must not eat from the tree" - and he told us the consequence of the choice, "for when you eat of it you will surely die." What an amazing God we serve! So gracious to allow us to partner with him, to not make us "puppets on a string" and at the same time, providing all that we need to live as we were created - in his image.

It seems that God had a lot of confidence in us. Why wouldn't we make the right choices? He would provide all that we would need to do it. But we didn't. Satan was more crafty and we made the wrong choice. Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Up until that point, all was good. God did not want us to know evil because it would kill us. And it did. Now he would have to resurrect us from the dead! He would do that for us by sending his one and only Son, Jesus to earth to destroy the works of the devil and to resurrect us to new life. A life that doesn't include "death". An abundant life lived by and under his authority.

But he has not taken away what he originally gave us - the ability to choose. Once again, we can choose good or we can choose evil. He has given us the answer. Choosing "good" is choosing Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, all that God had originally intended was restored. Humans could be restored to right relationship with God. He would once again, provide all that we need to live life on this earth and into eternity where we will see him face to face. It's done. Jesus fulfilled the law and paid the penalty. He defeated. He destroyed the works of the enemy (and the consequences of our wrong choices) His death purchased our freedom. Our freedom to choose. We can choose life or we can choose death.

Father God--
You created the earth, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. Then you created man. Your desire was that we would walk with you in the garden enjoying your creation. That we would multiply filling the earth and enjoying intimacy with you and with each other - all under your direction and provision. Your love would give us the power to love and all would be "good". All that you asked of us was that we choose you. Thank you for Jesus, our redeemer. His sacrifice paid for our freedom. His resurrection brought us life. Today Lord, help us accept the sacrifice - to choose you. Draw us into your heart, into your presence that we might know the one true God. That we might, once again walk with you in the garden enjoying all that you have created, all that is very good. Amen