Each of us has a choice in life, whether to choose the way of God, or the way of the world. The Bible tells clearly what the results of each choice will be for you and I.
In the book of Jeremiah, God defined the two options for the Children of Israel, and this also applies for us today.
Jeremiah 21:8 – Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
God gives each one of us the free will choice to choose spiritual life or spiritual death.
Let’s define each of the words in the subject of this teaching: Freedom, Choose, Way, Death, and Life
Freedom: The capacity to exercise choice; free from restraints
Choose: To select from a number of alternatives
Way: Freedom to do as one wishes
Death: The termination or extinction of something
Life: The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute existence
We have the assurance of our lives never becoming “extinct” according to Jesus Christ’s statement in the book of John Chapter 5:
John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
We are passed from death (dead in trespasses and sins as in Ephesians 2:1) unto life that is more than abundant (John 10:10)
Jeremiah was a great spokesman for God. He shared the Word boldly with the people of his day and time. Many were delivered because of his boldness, but the religious leaders of the day often were opposed to the truth that he spoke because it did not agree with their man-made doctrine. Despite this, he spoke the Word anyway! He said that “[God’s] Word became in my heart like a burning fire kindling in my bones.” He could not keep silent. (Jeremiah 20:9)
To quote chapter 10 of the book Order My Steps in Thy Word, by Victor Paul Weirwille:
“Jeremiah, an Old Testament prophet, has been called the weeping prophet because he was always weeping over Israel when they turned away from God. (Jeremiah 13:15-17; 22:9-10; 48:29-21) Regardless of what people may call those who seek God and his way, God still reveals himself to the meek [meek means humble and teachable – it does not mean weak] And sometimes what God reveals is intended to give the unbeliever who is meek an opportunity to leave his spiritual darkness and the valley of death and to follow the way of life. Jeremiah was God’s Messenger to offer God’s plan to the people of his day. “There are two ways before you” Jeremiah told the Children of Israel. “One way is the way of life; the other is the way of death. Now you choose which you will follow. You choose your destiny.” …Those who reject God’s Word and those who deliberately abuse it are choosing the way of death. But those who come to God’s Word, believe it, and act on it are choosing the way of life.”
Everyone makes the decision of whether or not to believe what God says sometime in the course of their life. Not everyone will choose to follow God, but be patient because everyone has the free will choice to eventually become born again. For some, it is not until much later in life or possibly the thought of facing their own mortality due to an illness that makes people cry out to God. If we choose not to become born again, there is no further life after we die. When we become born again, Christ will return and we will all be resurrected to live eternally together. (see I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Matthew 7:14 – Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Because God gave man free will, you and I are fully responsible for the choices we make. This world would make it appear as if there is nothing to be gained by trusting God and his Word. Just the opposite is true. As believers, we can stand before God without any sense of sin, guilt, or condemnation according to the Word. Our sins are forgiven and wiped clean:
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We have the freedom to choose our path, and the decision to choose life is easy!
We can be like Jeremiah and trust God and boldly speak his Word. We can give people the best of life in all its fullness! We can have eternal life through confessing Romans 10:9-10! We can stand before God without any guilt or sin consciousness!
In John 10:10 Jesus Christ said “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
We have the freedom to choose life, and enjoy a life more abundant!
God Bless You!
From a July 2007 teaching, [text in brackets mine] all scriptures King James Version
Original post: http://robsteachings.blogspot.com/2013/12/freedom-to-choose-life.html