Paradox of Choice

INTRODUCTION

Everyone has the potential and ability to make choices in life. What influences that choice is a different matter the bottom line is that we can choose  what you do, why you do, how you do it, when you do it.

However, our choices have consequences, but does bad choice necessarily lead to bad consequences or good choices always  produce good results? Or does a bad consequence indicate that the choice was bad or vice versa?

THE POWER OF CHOICE

When God created man, He created us in His Image which explains why God allowed man to choose within certain parameter set by Him in the garden.

Many wait on God to change their situation and circumstances, but in many instances it is God is  waiting on us to make our choices and present to Him for guidance. “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take”. Prov. 3:6{NLT}

Actions are act of will exercised by us, not  God. His role is to direct our pact  and for us to follow that pact or direction.

OUTCOMES ARE CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICES MADE

The outcomes of the choices you make are consequences. We can often associate the word consequence with a bad meaning, such as getting punished as a child. However, a consequence is something to learn from, grow from and use to get better with, and make the good outcomes even better, and the bad ones better too. You have the power to do that, but you can only do that when you take responsibility for the choices you make

ARE OBSTACLES THE CONSEQUENCE OF WRONG CHOICE MADE?   

Many people believe that, when they make the right decision everything should fall into place, obstacles in themselves are not an indication that the choice is wrong, in fact it could be an indication that you are in the right path but Satan and his host of demons are hindering you, on the contrary it might be an indication that you are on the wrong path and the presence of God is not with you. .

The point here is that obstacles should never be the reason for not making a choice, what is important is the conviction and sincerity behind your choice. When that is clear it makes the obstacle easy to deal with.

When God told the Israelites to take possession of Jericho, the people under the leadership of Joshua pressed ahead to do as they were told but met with stack opposition.  The gates were tightly shut up because of the people of Israel and nor was allowed in or out of the city. [Josh 6:1]

They could have gone back and say to themselves they made a bad choice or if God would have wanted them to have it He would have easily made it available. Joshua  sought the face of the lord to know what needed to be done to  make is word Good.

Despite not fully understanding the mind of God in the matter they choose to act on God’s word which subsequently produced the victory needed as the wall collapsed paving the way for the possession of the city as the Lord had promised.

TAKE RESPONSIBLILTY

 One difficult part of learning from the choices we make, is taking responsibility for them. When something goes wrong from a choice you make you need to own up and say, yes, I made that choice and the outcome was not as I expected. I will learn from that mistake, be honest to ask yourself the difficult questions.

Don’t do the blame game, ask God where you have missed it, repent and move on to make better choice for yourself in the future.

WHO DO YOU CHOOSE  TO SERVE AND WORSHIP?

The most important choice in life we get confronted with is choosing our destiny. “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deut 30.19 {NLT}

The scripture reveal to us that everyman has fallen short of God’s glory; no man is good enough, even our  best actions are like filthy rags before God. The good news is that in spite of our moral and character short comings before God. He reached down in His mercies  to man and gave us His Son to die in our place. Death being the  consequence of  sin and on the third day rose again that our relationship with God might be re established.

To enjoy this you have to make a choice to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour. You accept Jesus by accepting responsibility for your sins, then confess and ask for God’s forgiveness.

“..... If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” Rom 10:9