Free Will Can Be Costly

Truth Has Consequences

These days, many people long for — or boldly claim — a life where they’re free to do as they please or           as they feel. In reality, many already live that way.   

They say this is their birthright — and in many ways, they’re right. We are unique individuals with the gift of free will.

Some express this freedom by skipping carefree through life, refusing to be bound by anything “good” or “bad.” Their life’s melody:
“Que será, será — whatever will be, will be.”
“Everything is beautiful, in its own way.”

Others voice it more defensively:
“Who made you God?”
“Leave me alone — we’re all different.”
“Let me be who I want to be, and do what I want to do.”

These perspectives are understandable — but they aren’t grounded in reality.
Free will doesn’t cancel out the fact that choices must be made.
So… what’s really going on?

Most of us have heard the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden. They were created with a will perfectly aligned with their Creator. They didn’t need to choose between good and evil — because they had no concept of it. They could have frolicked forever in that paradise.

Until a choice was introduced: the temptation to be “like God.”
Eve and Adam took the bait — and suddenly, they could see the difference between good and evil. But it was too late.
The temptation to be like God turned out to be a lie.
To truly be like God comes only through surrender and obedience — not rebellion.

Had Adam and Eve understood that, they would have lived in the safety of constant goodness, forever unaware of sin.
But one fateful, willful choice changed everything.
Their hearts were stained — bent away from God.

And now, every person since is born with that same bent.

But here’s the hope:
Though born with a will inclined toward sin, we still have the power to choose.
We can go with the flow — or we can go against it, toward God.
Each of us must decide:
Will we serve God… or not?

Bob Dylan put it this way:
“You’re gonna have to serve somebody. 
It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord… 
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

God gives us all the freedom to choose.
We can keep our will… or surrender it to Him.
The decision is life-defining.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. 
Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life…” 
— Deuteronomy 30:19-20

“Choose this day whom you will serve…
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
— Joshua 24:15

When we surrender our broken will to God, He empowers us to live life as He designed it —
“on Earth, as it is in Heaven.”

We all have free will.
The choice is ours.
But remember:
Free will can be costly.
Truth has consequences.

I’ve chosen to follow Him.
Join me.
We have to go… to know.