Why Did God Give Us A Choice?

This question was recently asked in a study and it caused me to consider-why did God give us a choice? Since He is the Everlasting (EL Olam) God, He would know everything from beginning to ending. WE were created in His image, because of His great love for us and His wanting to share this love. God created us to both worship Him and love Him. Jeremiah 31:3 tells us "I have loved you with an everlasting love." He is telling us that even though He knows us totally yet He still loves us.

Just as we each desire to be loved without any restraints, so it is with God. Would you like to have someone love you simply because you forced them to do so? How could you ever be sure that they sincerely loved you? But just think of the difference when we have a choice in who we love. God is no different-He wants our total and committed love. "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) As stated in Deuteronomy 6 "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength". God wants to be our first love but He wants us to come to Him freely, without threats or force, but of our own choice. Just as we in our human nature need and desire love and affection from our mates, family, etc., so too does God desire our love.

God has always given us a choice beginning with Adam and Eve-choose to obey and not eat of the tree of knowledge or disobey, eat of the fruit from the tree and accept the consequences. Each time we choose to disobey He grants us grace and mercy again and again, however, there may be undesired consequences due to our actions. "Faithfully obey the Lord-will set you high above all nations. (Deut.28:1-2) Obedience to God assures you will be blessed.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded of His great love for us-"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Psalm 136 reminds us tha no matter what is happening in our lives God's love endures forever.

St. Teresa of Avila phrased it best "Christ does not force our will. He only takes what we give Him. But He does give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him."

Does your life demonstrate the right choice? A love for God.