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Choice is one of the greatest gifts that God has given man.  This gift is seemingly simple; but upon study, it’s wonderfully complex.  Many philosophers have studied the concept of choice and there is still much debate as to what it means.

Choices can be as simple as going to school or picking out which soup to eat.  They can be complex: deciding on which house to buy, whether you’re ready for marriage, moving to a new area.  The constant between all choices is that we have the freedom to choose.

This freedom carries responsibilities.  Consequences follow our choices…quite frankly, that’s why we make choices: for the consequences.  But anyone that’s made a major decision knows that sometimes these consequences are not noticed until much, much later.

I think this is so with God.

Consider the converse of choice.  Most people would say that the opposite of choice is "pre-destination."  This is a "churchy" word that I’m not discussing here.  I think the converse of choice is predictable programming.

Predictable programming means that given certain conditions, you would react in a predefined manner.  Nothing would be different.  Your reaction to the stimulus would be no different from any other reaction you’ve had before.  No knowledge is acquired in this mindset.  Believe it or not, many parts of our core behavior is "programmed."  Fear is a programmed response to a stimulus.  The situations may change but the feeling of fear does not change.

So, when choice is inserted into the equation, everything changes.  You may choose to heed your fear and retreat to safety.  Or you may choose to accept your fear and continue into whatever you were doing.

Even in this simple thought experiment, we see the power that choice has.  We must realize, though, that life isn’t just a simple equation.  Many factors influence our choices.  But the amazing thing is that the beauty of choice doesn’t get experienced until it comes to love.

Imagine for a moment that you were with someone you love.  Now imagine that you two had a terrible fight.  This fight causes you to reconsider the relationship.  Now, let’s strip away your choice of leaving and instead you are programmed to continue to be in this relationship.  When I think about romance, I don’t think about it being "forced".  In fact, I think of the opposite: this person could have chosen anyone else, but has chosen me.

And isn’t this what we want?  I know I would never want someone to be with me because she felt like there was no other option.  I would want her to be with me because she wants to be with me…she chooses to be with me.  Marriage is the greatest covenant because of this.  Marriage says that if given the choice to do it all over again, I would still choose my wife.  And I would always choose my wife…every time.

This is love.  Just like how love could not exist with trust, love cannot exist without choice.  Intimacy requires me to love my wife, no matter what she says or does.  And I must be willing to be vulnerable enough to have her make the same choice.  I must be willing to be hurt.  I must be willing to be vulnerable to the point of humiliation.  It’s this vulnerability is what has killed love and marriage today.  Many of us are so afraid of this kind of love…knowing that our partner can reject us at any moment…that we are afraid to pursue it.

The more I learn about marriage, the more I learn about the heart of God.  I wonder what went through his mind as he blessed us with the ability to reject him.  I wonder how he felt when he knowingly "programmed" his people to not love him back.  See, this becomes much more complex when you put the Creator in the equation.  And I think God knows the feeling of rejection more than anyone.  He gives everyone the choice to either love him or ignore him.  He gives everyone the choice to do good or to do evil.  He has given this choice.

I always think, "What does this say about God?"  Does it say that he’s so proud that he doesn’t need love?  That can’t be true because giving us the choice to love him says something different.

Well, perhaps God knew we wouldn’t do anything bad.  Well, if that was the case, there really wouldn’t be much "choice".

I think what this boils down to is the fact that God can plan out the world…our choices cannot limit or hinder him.  Our choices only hinder us.  You see, if choice didn’t matter, then all of this would be for nothing.  But when given the option to do good, to believe in him…when given the chance to be a part of something extraordinary…we get to see life in the way he intended it.  If we don’t, well, we don’t experience anything.

I think God realized these things.  Choice has much to do with love as trust does.

We’re all given the choice to love God or hate him.  We’re given that choice everyday, every moment in our life.  And perhaps, that’s the greatest gift of all: the choice to ignore the very being that gave us the gift.