We must choose
WHY GOD GIVES US THE CHOICE.
IMAGINE WHAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THAT DAY:He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground.
All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched.
"You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose."
All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "it's called 'choice.' The seed of choice."
Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.
An angel spoke, "But what if he ..."
"What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you."
Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow.
"There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter."
The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth.
"Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation."
"Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter."
A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?"
The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness."
The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths.
"This is the result of choice? the angel asked.
"Yes."
"They will forget you?"
"Yes."
"They will reject you?"
"Yes."
They will never come back?
"Some will. Most won't."
"What will it take to make them listen?"
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him.
With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler on a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it.
He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear.
"Will you go down there?" the angel asked.
"I will."
"Is there no other way?"
"There is not."
"Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?"
"It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love."
He look around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.
Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.
Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought by killing this false one.
Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly, "I will stay."
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
"It must be done...," he said, and withdrew.
But as he stepped in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.
The angel spoke again. "I would be less painful..."
The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."
They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.
But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.
Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:
"It looks like ... it appears to so much like ... it is him!"
The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside - at the soul.
"It's eternal!" gasped another.
Within the man, God has placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it's our choice.
An excerpt from Max Lucado
"Here's how it happened to me"
I had heard some sermons; I had heard some sincere prayers. Some of my saved friends were praying for me. I had been told how wonderful it was to have Jesus living in a person's heart. My heart was reaching out, longing for something. And then God showed meGOD SHOWED ME that I was a sinner. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.I John 1:8
GOD SHOWED ME that I was lost and wandering aimlessly. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. Isaiah 53:6
GOD SHOWED ME that He loved me. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to re- pentance. II Peter 3:9
GOD SHOWED ME that I could not save myself. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
GOD SHOWED ME that Jesus wanted to save me. For the Son of Man (Jesus) is come to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19:10
GOD SHOWED ME that I needed to believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31 He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
GOD SHOWED ME that I should not wait for another day. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2Corinthians 6:2 My heart was reaching out, longing for Jesus. On my knees I said, "Lord Jesus, I am a lost sinner I want You to save me and cleanse me from my sin. I believe You died to pay my debt of sin. I trust You now. By faith I claim You as my Savior. I am Yours, and You are mine forever" Then I felt God's love flowing through my innermost being. Such peace! Such deep joy and satisfaction! Jesus is still with me. He is still wonderful! Praise His holy Name! You can have Jesus in your heart. Trust Him. Let Him in right now! - Gailon Nethercuff
Faith Prayer & Tract League: Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504-1390
Click to subscribe to cooldevotions
