Author: Timothy Tin
Everyone has the freedom to choose; however, this freedom is limited and conditional. We can all choose what we like and how we do things when the situation or legal constraints bind us. For example, children cannot just take whatever they desire or play wherever they desire; they must obey their guardians and be subject to discipline, teaching, and self-regulation. This is why every child needs to receive the right kind of upbringing and education to be able to make sound choices.
When God made man with a breath of life, it awakened the man and gave him an eternal spirit. Man can act on his will but must accept the consequences of his choices. Thus, when God instructed Adam, the first man He created, to choose the right fruit to sustain his life, God allowed him to choose whatever fruit he desired, with the exception of one tree: “… but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). This is a choice of life or death, a commandment and law that determines which path one leads. This is the foundation of man’s upbringing, that wisdom is having the discernment between good and evil. If he chooses good, the fruits of human history will subsequently result in peace, joy, beauty, wisdom, power, glory, and eternity. If he chooses evil, then war, pain, fear, and death will come about. Which did Adam choose?
Although we do not see how Adam chose, as is evident in our ancient history and current times, Adam chose death because death is what every human will ultimately face. This permitted sin and suffering to enter the world; we cannot bear the consequences. We also inherited the sinful nature that started with Adam. Humans continue to make mistakes that lead to tragedies, robbing us of true peace and joy!
We might ask, “Why did Adam so foolishly make the choice of death?” The answer is found in the Bible: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Well, how did sin enter the world? “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15). The Bible also recorded that Adam’s wife Eve was tempted by the devil to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge. That led to Adam making the wrong choice, and seeds of selfishness were planted into the human hearts of every descendent of Adam and Eve.
The root of all evil comes from Satan. He continues to use the seeds of evil and plant them in our minds. Satan also uses the weakened flesh to tempt and continue to sow seeds of discontent in the human race. God made the beautiful and bountiful Eden, but sin caused this beautiful world to deteriorate. When a man follows his own desires and chooses selfishness, it perpetuates the cycles of death and suffering. God did not abandon man because of his sin; He continues using wisdom, goodness, righteousness, and love to plant their seeds among the human race. In Mark 1:15, it states, “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” God said that the only hope for the human race is to forgive and love one another. However, even Jesus’ disciples did not accept his teaching and would rather choose darkness and death. Thus God raised Jesus from the dead and gave one alternative to everyone: eternal life through Jesus Christ.
This world’s suffering and pain did not originate from God’s design. He created life but man chose death. God sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, so we could have a second chance. The decision this time will tremendously impact your present life and eternity. Are you willing to accept Jesus Christ and receive eternal life? If so, please say this prayer with me, “Dear Eternal and the Only True God, in a world filled with hatred and violence, where right and wrong are muddled and truth is relative, only Your Word is the lamp in the darkness. I’m willing to lay down my presumptions to accept Jesus Christ’s love and forgive everyone who has wronged me. I will choose eternal life and pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Author reference:
Rev. Dr. Timothy Tin is the lead pastor of the Christian Alliance Bible Church in L.A.
He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Fellowship of Christian Short-Term Missions and Presence Quotient.
He teaches at L.A. Christian Mission Seminary and is a licensed acupuncturist in Southern California and NACCAOM, USA.
He holds a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Alhambra Medical University and a Doctoral degree from the Alhambra Medical University of East-West Medicine in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.