There are good choices and there are bad choices in just about everything. Everyone has to make some choice or another. It is an inescapable and essential part of daily living.
The choices we make can and will define us. Neither can we escape the resulting consequences from our choices, once those choices have been activated. God created man with a “free will” of his own; hence, man can choose to do as he pleases — whether for good or evil purposes. However, because there can be dire consequences of our choices, we should exercise caution and good judgment in doing so.
There are several instances we read of in the Bible where personal choices have led to serious consequences. Notably, the situation with Adam and Eve. God placed these people in the Garden of Eden and allowed them to eat of every tree freely except of the “tree-of-the-knowledge-of-
The Bible says, “The LORD God commanded the man saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the Garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). After this, the serpent (Satan) in contradiction of God’s warning to Adam, tells Eve, “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).
Eve falls for the serpent’s lie, disobeys God, and talks Adam into disobeying God’s oder. The result? Both Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden by God. And as a result of their bad choices, sin came into the world.
The Bible states, “Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Think of it, Adam’s and Eve’s choices brought ruin on the human race. The lesson here is that disobedience is sin and sinful choices will result in dire sinful consequences.
There is also the situation with King David — declared to be “a man after God’s own heart.” On one occasion, David went for a walk, which is customary to many people. As he strolled, he saw Bathsheba bathing. Things didn’t end there. Instead of David “looking the other way,” and moving in that direction, he decided to get some information about Bathsheba with his intent to commit adultery, which he subsequently did.
David was not satisfied with the wrong choice that he had made. He soon decided to make another bad choice. This time he subsequently made arrangements for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle; perhaps with the intent to try to cover the previous sin. There seems to be no doubt that David had to be fully conscious of what he was doing was wrong
Although these were grievous and sinful acts, David eventually did the right thing by admitting that he sinned. God sent Nathan the prophet to confront him about the matter. In repenting of his sinful choice, David said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” In response, Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die“ (2 Samuel 12:13).
Another problem with making a bad choice is that some people try to “justify” their choice by placing blame on someone or something else. Adam, the first man created, falls into this category of people. He blames his wife Eve for his choice and Eve in turn blames the serpent. Also, at first David did not think Nathan was referring to him when confronted by Nathan. David said, “The man who has done this thing shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:5). However, he subsequently repented when Nathan told him, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7).
Admittedly, it is an awesome individual responsibility to make right choices, and which requires help from God Almighty, That is why our daily prayers should include asking God to give us the necessary wisdom, discernment, and guidance to make right choices.