God made people with the ability to make choices. Throughout the Bible, we read that people had choices. They could choose for God or against Him. Moses set "life and death, blessing and curse" before the people of Israel. He appealed to them, "therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19). Years later, Joshua appealed to Israel, saying, "Choose this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:13). They could choose to serve the living God or idols. The theme of choice continues throughout the Scripture.
(1) Sin is a choice. Sin entered this world because of the choice of man. God could have prevented the original sin, but to do so, He would need to take the choice away from man. Man's sin was a wilful choice with full knowledge that he was disobeying the word of God's command. Also, the Lord forewarned man of the consequences of his sin. God is never responsible for our sin. He has given us both choice and responsibility for our choices.
(2) Repentance is a choice. The New Testament word repentance comes from two Greek words, meta and nous. The word meta means change, and the word nous means mind. Repentance is a change of mind. That involves choice. The only way that we can make things right with God is to change our minds about sin and our lifestyle.
In Luke 15, the prodigal son chose to leave his father's house to live in sin. His poor choice led to failure and a wasted inheritance. He repented. He chose to return to his father's house. He said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18). As he returned, his father chose to forgive and restore him. God our Father has chosen to forgive and restore us, as we choose to confess our sins and change the direction of our lives. God gives us choice.
(3) Faith is a choice. God gives us the ability to trust Him, that is to put faith in His word. Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter in the Bible. It tells of many Old Testament characters who chose to believe God and act on His word. In the Hebrew mindset, faith was not merely an academic pursuit. It was more than hearing the word. It was also being doers of the word (James 1:22).
Throughout Scripture, Abraham is repeatedly an example of faith. So it is in Hebrews 11. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). His faith was a choice that caused him to obey God, when he didn't know exactly where the Lord would lead him. Likewise, our relationship with God is a choice of faith.
