Every day, we make countless choices. Some of them are just practical, such as what time to get up or what clothes to wear. In such cases, one option may be more sensible than another—it’s wise to get out of bed on time if you have to go to work, and if it’s raining, it’s smart to wear a raincoat or bring an umbrella. But with these kinds of choices, there is no real “right” or “wrong.”
It’s different with moral or ethical choices. There are certain standards and values that we must adhere to. Psalm 34:13-14, for example, says:
“Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.”
Another example can be found in Philippians 4:8,
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
So it matters how we live, how we treat other people, and how we relate to our Creator. We can make good or bad choices in this regard, and we will be held accountable for them. “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
Can we make good choices?
The Bible speaks in radical terms about people who live without God. They are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1; 2:4-5). This does not mean that these people are physically dead, but that they lack the ability to make the right choices and live well. By nature, people drift along like dead fish, “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Romans 5:6 calls them “weak” or “helpless.” Titus 3:3 describes them as “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing [their] days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” All these statements are not about a specific group of people who live particularly bad lives. On the contrary, Paul says that believers used to be like that as well, just like the others (Titus 3:3; Ephesians 2:2-3). The picture painted here of us humans is therefore rather discouraging.
But our situation is not hopeless. God is willing to “make us alive” and set us free. As a result, we can start living radically differently.
Making good choices
When we, as believers, make good choices, it is because the Spirit of God is at work in us. This does not mean we do not have a part to play.
When we were sinners, God made us alive through His Holy Spirit. As spiritually dead people, there was nothing we could contribute to our salvation. Yet once we are saved, we are spiritually alive, and we are actively serving God. We are not just passive in our Christian life. The basic text which speaks about this is Philippians 2:12-13: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” It is God who works in us to will. So that is a direct statement that our good choices are the work of the Holy Spirit. But we work it out. We are involved. The Holy Spirit is at work in us and we happily walk in God’s way.
Making bad choices
On the other hand, when we make bad choices, of course that is not because of the Holy Spirit. James 1:13-14 says: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”. For God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” Even when we are born again and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, there are still remnants of sin that influence us. It is our own sinful desires that cause us to make wrong choices. We must continue to fight against those desires.
Guilt
Now you may be wondering: if we can only do good when the Holy Spirit is working in us, why does God blame us when we do something wrong? We can’t help it, can we?
Although we do “have to” sin without God’s intervention, we are not forced to do so by God or by anything external. In fact, when God created the first humans, they were indeed capable of doing good. It is our own sinful hearts that cause us to do wrong. Therefore, the blame for our mistakes lies with ourselves.
Choose well
Your choices make a difference. Choose well, and you grow in your faith and knowledge of the Lord. Choose badly, and see your conscience harden and the flame of the Holy Spirit be dimmed in your life. So pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to live a life that is honoring God. And work with all your might to serve Him.