The founding of our country was motivated by and based, largely, on our right to choose how we want to live and especially how we prefer to practice our religion. The key words here are “right to choose.” Do you feel that our relationship to God should be on a completely voluntary basis, and that we get to choose if we want to or not? God feels that way, as well. He told the Israelites “IF you obey Me fully…you will be My treasured possession.” (Ex. 19:5). “If” indicates that we always have a choice. You may choose to reject God’s existence for some stupid ‘reason’, which is your unalienable, God-given right, but think carefully about that choice!
Has God ever forced Himself and His ways upon us against our will? Well, perhaps only in His final judgement and only on the incorrigibly wicked – like those who died in the great flood. It may depend on what we mean by “force.” I, for one, feel ‘forced’ – i.e. inclined to recognize an intelligent, powerful, and caring God in the whole of creation every day.
Every human is a ‘Free Moral Agent’; meaning we don’t move about by instinct, like the animals; we intentionally do what we do by moral choice. That’s a part of what it means to be “created in the image of God.” Of course, we may not always make good choices or decisions (our fault). So, with our ‘right of choice’ comes a big responsibility; we may try to blame others or fate or whatever, for our bad decisions but we are personally responsible for our own actions and choices.
“If you refuse [choose not] to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will [choose to] serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15, NLT)
Jesus told the crowd, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me. Whoever does not work with Me is working against Me” (Matt. 12:30, NCV). So, choose wisely!
-John Driggers, Spiritual Advisor for Myers-Davis (4/7/25, V7#14)
