Your Choice

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

— Psalm 37:23 (NKJ)

This verse sounds like God automatically directs the steps of a righteous person. For years, I took this at face value. And then I realized that God never makes a person do anything. In order for a righteous person’s steps to be ordered by the Lord, that person has to come into agreement with God. Another way of saying it is to come into harmony with God. 

God has a good plan for every person and desires for that plan to be fulfilled, but He does not force His will on anybody. He will not make us do anything we don’t want to do. And He does not force us to go places we have no desire to go.

When God created the Garden of Eden and placed Adam and Eve in it, He wanted them to enjoy life to the fullest with everything good imaginable. They were in a perfect setting and He was ordering their steps. However, they had a choice to follow His leading and do what He said or not. For a time, they were in harmony with Him and they were happy and content until . . .

People say God caused all the bad things that happened to mankind because they disobeyed. But is that true? Did God make bad things happen? You hear him telling Adam that they could eat of all the beautiful trees that grew in the garden to satisfy their desires. He wanted them to be happy, enjoy life, have fun and fellowship with Him. He even warned them about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, telling them not to eat fruit from it, because if they did, they would die. He did not say He would make them die.

Abba Father is not being unkind or harsh. He had already shown His love through the glorious world He made for mankind. Now He was saying, “Trust Me and let Me take care of you. I know what is best for you.” It’s like a loving parent saying to his child, “I want to take care of you. Trust me.” 

Adam and Eve wanted to do their own thing instead of trusting God and disaster resulted. They knew what they were doing when they listened to the snake and chose to do what he said. God did not make them disobey. 

It was their choice. God told them the consequences ahead of time. And sure enough, they died to God’s Spirit and death began to work in their bodies. Hardship, evil, disappointment, anger, depression, sickness etc. became part of their lives. 

Think about it. Did God purposefully bring disaster and evil into their lives? No, He did not. How did it come then? Through their decision, their choice, to follow their own way and be their own boss. 

Evil came because of their choice. Think about it – they reaped what they sowed. Abba Father did not do it. 

In order to receive God’s direction and blessings, we must come into agreement or harmony with Him. 

“Today’s choices build your tomorrows”