The choices we make

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:9-13

Whether we like it or not, we are responsible to the choices we make. Our actions are not controlled by others. We have done what we did because we chose to do so. This is what God was addressing when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command. Yet, despite of their disobedience, the first question God asked “Where are you?” was to give both Adam and Eve the opportunity to ponder upon their misdeed. Then Adam’s response showed what guilty conscience could do. He saw himself naked which was before a non-issue to them for there was no shame not until they committed sin (see Genesis 2:25). Because of sin, their self-consciousness had changed brought upon by the sense of guilt. Adam shifted the blame to Eve despite the fact that he was culpable of the sin committed. He even accused God of causing him to sin because of the woman God created. This was in spite of the fact that Eve was God’s gift to Adam (Genesis 2:22). Sin is a deliberate choice of every person. “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else” (James 1:13). Their actions took place because of their willful rebellion to God’s command. Our actions cannot be controlled by others, yet, how often we try to find someone to blame for our wrongdoings. It is your choice to get angry or not. You make a choice if you will be godly or not when confronted to make a decision. But no matter how we shift the blame to others God could not be deceived. “Don’t be misled—God cannot be mocked” (Galatians 6:7). Shifting blame to others will not lead to good result. Just like with Adam and Eve, it will only prevent us to have an honest fellowship with God. Once we continue to make excuses for our misdeeds, this will make our hearts callous that we will no longer be receptive to God’s leading. Then you are hindering yourself to experiencing God’s best for your life. Instead of assigning blame to others, admit your wrongdoing to God and ask His forgiveness. If you have a relationship with God, do not take it lightly when He is providing you an opportunity to choose His way of freedom and not being in bondage by sin. “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com

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