There are some who say that everything we do has already been determined. We are mere puppets going through life following a path which someone else decided for us long ago. Perhaps one reason some people think this way is it removes responsibility. If our lives are predetermined, then how can we be held responsible for the things we do? If we have no choice, the praise or blame falls on the One who made us this way and caused our behavior.
The truth is that we confront choices every day. And, they are real choices. No one makes us turn right instead of left. We choose our own path. While it is true that God knows ahead of time what we will do, He does not force us to do it. He lets us choose whether we will serve Him or not.
The corollary to having choice is that we are responsible and accountable for the choices we make. Time after time the Bible tells us that God will judge us according to what we have done.
This raises another question. If we are free to choose our own way and will be held accountable for our choices, how can we know what the right choices are? How can we know which decisions are pleasing to God? The Apostle Paul writes, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross.” (Philippians 3:17-18 NIV)
Paul says that there are two categories of people: those who live according to the pattern he gave, and enemies of the cross. We can say that we believe in God; we might boast that our families are wealthy and influential; we can even wear the name of Christ. But none of these things matter if we don’t live according to the pattern. To reject the pattern is to reject the cross; it is to show enmity toward what God has done to rescue us from eternal condemnation.
What is the example or pattern that Paul writes about? He referred to it in the same letter when he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:21 NIV) Then, he expands on this when he says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:1-5 NIV)
What choices do we make? Do we choose to be like Christ? Do we choose to put the interests of others ahead of our own? Do we choose to be like-minded and be one in spirit and purpose with others who follow Christ? Do we choose to put our own ambition aside?