Freedom of choice?

God gave us freedom of choice. If we had no choice, there would not have been the forbidden tree in the garden. 

Our choice involves the freedom to pursue him or attempt to be our own god i.e. not pursue the only true God. 

God continues to give us freedom of choice. 

He does so for two reasons. He wants us to choose him 

1. Freely

    AND

2. Willingly

Freedom of choice allows us to experience why we are not designed to be our own god i.e. To let us see firsthand that being our own god does not work. It allows us to experience firsthand "the knowledge of good and evil."

Allowing us to experience the fruit of our free choice persuades us to also willingly choose to pursue him; to operate according to his design (as dependent creatures) versus being our own god i.e. He leaves our choice intact and seeks to change our "¹wanter" not stifling or removing our "chooser." 

The bottom line… God wants us to choose to be who He designed us to be willingly and freely. He does not force us or program us to do so.  

Love that is not freely chosen is not true love, it is programmed. There is no true love without real choice. 

An old expression says, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." However, this expression fails to recognize that you can also salt their oats. This is not a violation of the will but the creating of awareness; an awareness of need. God allows us to experience our true limits-need-condition so that we will freely choose Him who is the best option.

Adam and Eve had never experienced death-evil and could not fully appreciate the benefit of all the good received from God until they had lost it by turning away from their dependence on God. Eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil resulted in them experiencing evil-death (harm) firsthand.

• For a further discussion on choice click here.

• Why freedom of choice is important click here

• How sovereign is God? click here.

• The practical importance of God's electing grace click here

• Do we have a "free" will or are we heavily influenced? click here

• The value of paradox and truths in tension click here.

• The question of fairness click here.

• The necessity of mercy click here.

• Is the election and wrath of God unreasonable? click here.

• For a discussion on how we are free to choose yet also bound, click here. 

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¹Our ability to choose always remains; however what we want changes. And we want what we think-believe will best give us what we need. It is what we believe is the best option out of all possible options to choose from. 

As long as we are open to truth - to what truly is - we will increasingly discover God is our true and best end. He is why we exist - the cause and the purpose of our existence. He is the Alpha and Omega - for from him, through him, and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen! - Rom 11:36