Choose Life

Genesis 1:1 says that In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. There are many places in the Bible that identify just who is this creator. One of those places is at Psalms 83:18 where it says, “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

On the earth, in a garden is where He originally placed His creation of Man. He called His creation by name, Adam. In time, He created a partner for him. Genesis 1:27 then says that he made them Male & Female. Eventually, Adam called his partner Eve. In Genesis 2:4 it says, “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time they were created.” In Genesis 2:21-22 He explains how He created them, male and female.



Genesis 3:1 introduces another character originally identified as a Serpent. In time, we learn that this original Serpent was actually a rebellious spirit creature who became desirous to receive Jehovah’s glory. He is identified at Revelation 12:9, “So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” This original serpent chose poorly. He did not choose life. And he encouraged others also not to chose life. In his conversation with Adam and Eve, he encouraged them to be disobedient and therefore not to choose life.

It all began with a conversation between Eve and the original serpent. This conversation is found at Genesis 3:1-5. Here, the serpent said to the woman “Did God really say that you must not ear from every tree of the garden?” Unaware of any sinister act by this serpent, the woman simply responded to the command that Adam had relayed to her. In verse (2), she said, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, (3) But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘you must not ear from it, no, you must not touch it, otherwise you will die.’ 2 things have happened here. 1) it is revealed by her conversation that she knows what Jehovah told Adam about not eating from the fruit of this one particular tree and 2) she knows what is the meaning of death.

Now in verse (4) it is revealed what is the first lie ever told in the history of life. Here it says, “at this the serpent said to the woman: “you certainly will not die. (5) For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” Verse 6 says, “ . . . So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her and he began eating it. . . .” So far, we have 3 individuals who chose death over life. 1) The serpent 2) Adam and 3) Eve. History will reveal that their choice was not good. It was as a result of this action (choosing death over life) that has caused us today to also make a similar choice. Will we choose life? Or will we choose death? A majority of mankind living today have not chosen life.

But for a minute lets first discuss some of those written down in history who chose life.
1. Abel chose life. Genesis 4:3-5 explain what happened to Abel and his brother Cain. In verse (3), “After some time, Cain brough some fruits of the land as an offering to Jehovah. In verse (4) But Abel brought some firstlings of his flock, including their fat. While Jehovah looked with favor on Abel and on his offering, (5) He did not look with any favor on Cain on his offering.” Why did Jehovah view Abel’s offering favorably and not Cain’s? Answer: Cain brought fruits, but Abel brought some firstlings of his flock, in other words, Abel brought the first and the best he had while Cain did not. Abel chose life whereas Cain chose poorly. Abel was remembered favorably and Cain was not.
2. There were no doubt others in the beginning of time that also chose life and were found pleasing to Jehovah, but here are a few notable ones. Next was Noah. Genesis 5:28-29 introduces this man to us. In verse (32), Noah becomes 500 years old and becomes father to Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 6:8 says “But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. . . . and walked with the true God.” In verse (14) Jehovah asked Noah to build an Ark for the saving of human life. In verse (22) it says that “Noah did according to tall that God had commanded him. He did just so.” Noah, his 3 sons and their wives chose life.



Throughout the history of mankind as recorded in the Bible, there have been many humans that chose life over disobedience. So we must ask ourselves, what do I need to do to CHOOSE LIFE?

If it is your desire to please Jehovah there are some simple steps needed to make that choice:
1. Get to know God, first by knowing his name (Jehovah) then by using it. Psalms 83:18
2. Acknowledge that He is the true God and that all other gods are false. Know or learn what he expects from us. Does he just want us to be good people and not hurt our neighbors? Or is there more? Romans 10:2
3. Learn who he has identified and accepted as “His People.” Isaiah 43:10-11 says: “You are my witnesses, declares Jehovah, ‘yes, my servant whom I have chosen, . . . (11) I, I am Jehovah, and besides me, there is no savior.” Then in verse (12) again, he verifies: “So you are my witnesses,” ‘declares Jehovah, and I am your God.’”



There will be many choices you will have to make between now and the next day.
Do I turn left or right?
Should I take this job? Or that one?
Should I go here or there?



Not all choices you make will involve your life. But some will. And some will involve making decisions that could forever affect your relationship with your god. Whether or not you know or believe this, everyone on the face of the earth worships one god or another. In the Bible at 1John 5:19 it says, “We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” Therefore, if you are not worshipping Jehovah, then you are under the control of the ‘wicked one.’ It will be a challenge to Choose life while under the control of this wicked influence. Because in order to Choose life, we must learn what it takes to identify a proper and acceptable direction and step outside of this worldly demonic influence. I would initially suggest going to your App store and download JW.Org and JW Library. There you will find a reference Bible which you should refer to often. If you choose to carry on this discussion, this is one of the publications I will be referring to. There is more to using this publications but I’ll save this for a future time when it becomes evident that you are interested.

Your first move would be to ask for a Bible Study and then decide if what your learning is what you want. You can find Jehovah's Witnesses in many locations near your home. They are currently looking for you. But you can find them doing what we call Cart Witnessing, or going from Door to Door or at your local Kingdom Hall. If you want me to locate one for you, LMK and I will look for one close to your home.