Our destiny is one thing and our choice is another. We can't choose our parents, neither can we choose our motherland, our time of birth, nor our environment. We have no freedom to choose these things, for we are destined for them. However, we can choose disciplines. We have freedom to choose marriage, jobs, and places to live in. We are not destined for everything, neither can we choose everything. I heard a man say on TV, "If God exists, why couldn't He have prevented a woman from being in debt and her baby from jumping out of a high apartment? There is so much war, disease, and trouble in this world. If God is alive, why does He let people be as they are? God is not alive. My heart is a god." I was very sorry and disturbed to hear that. Since the man on TV was ignorant of the Scripture and God, he misunderstood completely.


1. A person's destiny and freedom of choice
    1) It was predestined by God that Adam was created and dwelled in the Garden of
        Eden (Ge 1:26,27)
    2) Adam was given the freedom of choice
        (1) There was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the
             middle of the Garden of Eden
        (2) God warned Adam that a wrong choice would bring about a terrible result
            (Ge 2:15-17)
        (3) A wrong choice and temptation (Ge 3:1-6)

2. What people misunderstand
    1) The tragedy on the earth today is caused by the choices people make
        (1) The spiritual death of Adam and Eve (Ge 3:10)
        (2) The cursed ground (Ge 3:17,18)
        (3) The pain in childbearing and the discord between married couples (Ge 3:16)
        (4) Physical death (Ge 3:19)
    2) The first condition of God's image that Adam had was freedom
        (1) Without the freedom of choice, Adam would have been only a puppet
        (2) The freedom of choice must include taking responsibility for the results
        (3) God warned Adam that a wrong choice would cause trouble (Ro 5:12)
    3) Do not blame others for your wrong choices (2 Co 11:3)

3. The temptation of Jesus and His choice
    1) When Jesus was tempted in the desert after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, He chose
        the way of God instead of the temptation of the devil (Ge 3:15)
        (1) Physical desire - bread (Mt 4:3,4)
        (2) Mental desire - popularity, fame (Mt 4:5-7)
        (3) Boasting of this world - wealth, authority (Mt 4:8-11; Lk 4:14,15; Ac 10:38)
    2) The final choice of Jesus
        (1) When He was invited by the Greeks (Jn 12:20,21,23-24)
        (2) At Gethsemane (Mk 14:36; 10:15)
        (3) Jesus didn't look back (Mt 27:11-14; Jn 10:17,18; Ro 5:18,19)

4. We exercise the freedom of choice
    1) The big frame of our lives is predestined. However, we have the freedom of choice -
        either to choose Jesus or to choose the world
    2) Whatever we choose, we have to take the responsibility for the results (Dt 30:19,20)
    3) There are always two ways:
        (1) The way of God - the way of life: it is narrow and hard (Mt 7:14; Dt 30:14-16)
        (2) The way of humanity and of the world - the way of death: it is wide and
             convenient (Mt 7:13; Dt 11:26-28)
    4) Let us live in this way - seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
        (Mt 6:29-33; Gal 5:13)


      Human beings credit their success to themselves and their failure to their ancestors. We must not blame our wrong choices on others. We must repent of our wrong choices, and make new and right choices for tomorrow.