I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
He that hath the Son hath Life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not Life. (1John 5:12)

Why are so many things, many characterized as terrible things, happening here and around the world each and every day?

I think, across the board, we can all whisper ‘that’s unbelievable’ of the things that are delivered to us each day over media outlets of our choice. I have to keep reminding myself that these issues distract us, sadden us, but they’re part of a much bigger picture. Rather than to be observed as one incident at a time, it’s a package deal when viewed from a believer’s standpoint. I think we have a broader problem than just experiencing one disappointing incident after another. Most, if not all, of these confrontations are part of a significant biblical problem; a spiritual problem of ancient and huge proportions. Isaiah might sum it up as evil sold as good and good declared as evil, confusion over darkness and Light. (Isa. 2:20) I might add, we’re a generation that sometimes mimics the compassion of God while supporting things in our culture that do more harm than good in people’s lives.

Many of the issues can be put in a box labeled ‘lack of accountability’; some people might label that box: ‘right and wrong’, perhaps ‘darkness and light’, good and evil’, ‘life and death’. Largely, in the secular world, the ‘religion of the day’ is ‘all ideas are equal’; at least all ideas that oppose the Wisdom of God seem to be equally celebrated as the preferred. We do that with no serious evaluation of how an idea may actually affect people’s lives, especially our children’s lives. In some ways, Biblically speaking, we celebrate sad things as much as we do life giving things.

The Bible sets up some pretty easy choices for us using contrast as a teacher.

It’s kind of like: to experience Life as the Father would have it for you: just choose ‘door number 1 not door number 2’.

Contrasts started in the first descriptions found in Genesis 1 – the original creation was perfect and complete, contrasted with Genesis 2 where creation was described as fallen, broken. So much of what we’re to learn and express about God is presented to us as two simple choices. Choices are repeated over and over to help us. God’s attitude- look, choices are simple and necessary. Biblically, compare the contrast of two foundations in Matt. 7, one built on a rock, one suffering a great fall. There are two goats of Lev. 16, two masters of Matt. 6, two commandments of Matt. 22, we have two covenants, two sons of Matt. 21, each offering choice and contrasting the results of their choices. Cain and Abel are presented as two different Life choices: The Way of God (Acts 18:26) and the way of Cain (Jude 11). In reality, those two ways are the only ways found in God’s Word, one True the other false. As believers, we may argue over the doctrines of our individual Faith but the key issue is simply whether we choose Him: ‘the Way of God’ or Cain’s way, man’s way. According to Scripture, one will lead to Life, in both the present and the eternal. The other leads to a second death.

Abraham and Lot were uncle and nephew, of the same family, but ‘strife’ developed between them. Two lifestyles contrasted head to head. Abraham chose God’s Way, Lot chose his portion (Gen. 13:11). Lot’s choice led to sharing in Sodom’s troubles. Abraham who walked by faith had a more glorious experience. Abraham, who the bible describes as a friend of God, experienced an ‘exceeding great reward’. Lot made his choice and it was not so good. Similarly, Isaac and Ishmael, while both were sons of Abraham, experienced different rewards: Ishmael born of the flesh and Isaac born of the spirit. Again, two Covenants, the first flawed and the second perfect, the second a better covenant. In all of these examples, contrast was used to show the consequences of our choices. We can choose either; but we cannot choose the consequences. Today is still pretty much like the beginning. We had a First Adam, now we have a new creation and a 2nd Adam, the first earthy and marred. The Second man (Jesus) the Lord of Heaven: contrast!

Jesus is The Way, the preferred Way and no other Way. It’s the Way of God or the way of Cain, not complicated, not confusing. Adam’s first response after the fall was to hide. We do the same, personally and culturally. We’re not quick to say, ‘I blew it: Yours is a better Way.’ Adam went so far as to point a finger at Eve, ‘She did it.’ Still today, we personally and culturally accept no accountability, excusing most of what we do by blaming others. Worldwide it’s someone else’s fault that I’m like this or that. That’s not going to work for us in the long run. There’s little philosophical conversation today….We do have people that think they are Socrates and Plato but they do that by self-centered intellect only, not from applying the Wisdom of God.

In the Gospel predestination was not a pre-written script for each of our lives. I think more accurately, God predestined to Love us and offered Wisdom on how to live. But there’s a caveat, we have to choose Him. Before the foundation (1Peter 1:20) of the world a Lamb was slain, later manifested at Calvary…that was done so that we would have a choice to make: a contrast between two lives. Just as a groom asks the bride to say yes, God asks us to say yes, become His Bride; it’s our decision, no one else’s. In a practical sense, even our children must make that decision. Mom and dad cannot, Grandpa and Grandma can’t make it for them.

It was purposed, designed, created and set in place for each one of us to choose Him. From God’s perspective, all have been chosen (predestined in His Love), but few do the choosing of Him. (Matthew 24:13) Each child, cousin, grandfather, neighbor (you get the picture) must say yes. There is no partnership here, it’s individual. We may not be at peace about people having those choices, it upsets our world, but we must recognize that it was a ‘before the foundation of the world’ plan for each person’s life.

We need to share.

We need to care.

And if there is a question, we need to be ‘Johnny on the spot’ with Life answers. Our peace must come from knowing God is moving on our loved one’s behalf, on our neighbors, our community, and he’s reconciled the world to make a way for people to choose Him. Not only is it our responsibility to choose Him, miraculously (spiritually) He’s given each of us the ability to respond. The choice of two lives has been and is the natural process since creation….’choose you this day whom you will serve.’ (Jos. 24:15) He’s made His decision about you, predestined to Love, now you are required and every child is required to make a decision about Him.

We simply need to have confidence that making the choice advised by the Wisdom of God, choosing the better of two choices, is much of what this Gospel is about. The first choice (and it’s a daily requirement from then on to make that choice) is to say with our mouths and mean in our hearts the words ‘yes, I believe.’ It’s very Garden of Eden like. If Adam and Eve had just looked at that tree of good and evil and simply refused to believe a lie about God, at that moment had chosen Him: problem solved.

We’re staring at the same tree today, making that same choice. We may have missteps along the way but observing the contrast between Abraham and Lot’s lives, making a purposed choice, is the key to not only our lives now but our future as well