God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil. (Genesis 3:3-5, NLT)
“It’s a bad herniated disc, but I don’t think you can hurt it any worse. If you can tolerate the pain, you can play,” the doctor said.
Coach Gale paced, “We need her to play.” I was currently the number one player on the team, and in his eyes, there was no choice other than to play. I had to decide: either I deal with the pain and play, or my college career ends three months early.
The first evidence that humans were included in God’s created order and had the ability to choose occurred in the garden. God showed Adam and Eve all the trees they had to choose from and said no to only one tree.
The serpent proposed something different to Eve. “You shall not surely die?” Doubt entered, and Eve faced a choice between God’s spoken truth and Satan’s lie. Adam and Eve chose to eat, and everything changed.
If God knew this would happen, why did he give his image bearers choice in the first place?
In her work, “Christianity is Jewish,” Edith Schaeffer writes, “God did not make programmed computers, or mechanized dolls such as children play with.” Instead, she says, “Choice gives significance in a significant history.”
In other words, a person’s choice gives that person an amount of dignity.” Our created dignity originates in God first choosing us, which in turn allows us to choose him from a posture of freedom and purpose.
With choice also comes consequences, however. All future humans were affected by Adam and Eve’s decision. But God, in his steadfast love, had a solution. This solution would also include choice.
God spoke his new plan into the mix while telling Satan the consequences of his actions. “He (the woman’s offspring) will strike your head, and you (Satan) will strike his heel.” At some time in the future, an offspring of the woman would be born, live, and die to pay the full penalty for Adam and Eve’s actions.
God was true to his word. Jesus was born at a significant time in history to fulfill God’s promise of the Messiah. Humans again had a choice to believe or not believe.
I chose to play my final collegiate season, albeit with immense pain, with no regrets. I have also made the choice to say yes to Jesus. It’s a daily choice as Satan is always trying to entice with a fresh apple. How about you? Have you made your choice?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me the dignity to choose to follow you. Help me stay focused on you and say no to the lies of Satan.