CHOOSE LIFE

“CHOOSE life” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV). Trying to push people into making the right choices is sin, a sin that I’ve been guilty of many times. Gentle persuasion isn’t bad, but God refuses to violate people’s free will, and if we want to be like Him, we must allow people the freedom to choose good or evil. When I try to control others, it’s partly noble: I want them to have a good life. I also want to avoid the pain of watching them crash and burn. God, however, seems willing to endure this pain. He insists that people come to Him in love and trust, and these cannot be forced; they must be chosen. He fully understands how painful it is to watch people choose sin; He feels it right along with us.