Three Choices in Life

December 29, 2024
Scripture: Genesis 2:15–19
Introduction
Life is full of decisions. From birth to death, we make countless decisions. Humans are creatures of choice, and God created us this way.
There are good decisions and bad decisions. Good decisions create a bright future, while bad decisions can bring about difficult outcomes. The freedom and responsibility God gave Adam in Genesis are also given to us today.
Today, we will look at three choices that we face repeatedly in life. By being mindful of these three choices, we can reap good results in our lives and be an example to our children and those around us.

I. What We Take In
The first choice is what we take into ourselves. Let us first read verses 16 and 17:
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Here, God told Adam he could eat from any tree except one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. People often say, “If God hadn’t made the forbidden tree, there wouldn’t have been any problems for humanity. God must be cruel to have created such a tree.”

However, if God hadn’t given Adam and Eve the choice between good and evil, He wouldn’t have given them true freedom. Freedom includes the ability to choose, even between good and evil. What does the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil symbolize? Goodness represents God Himself. Choosing God is choosing good, while rejecting Him is choosing evil.

Just as Adam and Eve chose what to take in, we are constantly faced with the decision of what to take into our minds and bodies.

A. Food
First, let’s talk about food. The food we eat determines our health. There are many delicious foods, but unhealthy choices can harm our bodies. This doesn’t only mean poison; many tasty foods are harmful because of sugar and fat. High-quality fats may be particularly enjoyable but are often bad for our health. Consuming sugar and fats together can easily lead to excess calorie intake and fat accumulation. Our greatest dietary enemies are sugar and fat.

Recently, I bought an air fryer. It allows me to cook without oil, and excess oil drains away during cooking.

Overeating is another issue. The brain sends signals when we’ve eaten enough, but it can be difficult to turn off our desires. Eating until you’re 80% full is said to feel more like 60%, but many people eat until they’re 120% full. Overeating leads to not only obesity but also lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

B. Information
The next thing to consider is information. We are constantly exposed to information through the internet and smartphones. Information enters our minds and influences our decisions. Once you’ve seen or heard something, your choices are no longer the same as before. Information impacts our thoughts and, ultimately, our decisions.

Imagine you like someone and think they’re a good person. Then a friend tells you they are bad and shares negative things about them. How would your feelings toward that person change? Likely, you would begin to see them differently, harbor doubts, and the relationship might suffer.

Information must be carefully evaluated for accuracy. However, once you’ve heard or seen something, it becomes difficult to judge objectively. We live in an era of falsehoods—fake news. Even the news we see may not convey the truth. Just because many people believe something doesn’t mean it’s true.

Emotions like anger, hatred, and envy, as well as desires, are strongly influenced by information. Eve kept looking at the forbidden fruit until she desired it.

Choose to take in good things. Eat healthy foods that are nutritious and beneficial, and avoid overeating. Seek good information, as it leads to positive emotions and actions. While you can’t completely close your eyes and ears to the world, you can choose environments that provide good information.

II. Who We Walk With
The second choice is about the people we walk through life with.

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Adam was alone, and God determined he needed a helper, a partner. Initially, there were no women, so Adam looked among the animals. In a world without sin, he could interact with all creatures, even lions, elephants, and crocodiles. But none were suitable as a partner.

Choosing who to walk through life with is crucial, as it shapes your journey.

A. Friends and Partner
First, let’s talk about friends. Friends influence each other, and eventually, you will become like your friends. Good friends lift you up, while bad friends can pull you down. We are far more easily influenced than we may realize. When choosing friends, the most important consideration is what they value.
Some people value pleasure, while others value self-discipline.
Some prioritize work and wealth, while others treasure friends and family.
Some focus on self-fulfillment, while others prioritize loving and serving others.
In any case, friends often reflect a shared aspect of ourselves. If you choose friends who share your weaknesses, you may find yourselves spiraling downward together. Conversely, if you choose friends who possess the qualities you aspire to develop, you, too, can grow into those qualities.

Next, let’s consider a partner. This is the closest relationship you can have on earth, so a poor choice can lead to deep emotional wounds. Such wounds often result in hatred. Marriage may create a love-hate relationship—what should have been the most loving relationship turns into one filled with strife and animosity.
A partner is someone with whom you can share the depths of your heart, someone who can alleviate your loneliness. We experience joy when we share our innermost thoughts and feelings. Animals cannot fulfill this role. God created humans as unique beings in His image, with the capacity for such deep connections.

However, human beings have limitations. Miscommunication occurs due to our finite ability to express and understand. Our capacity to love and care is also limited, and no one can sustain perfect love 24 hours a day. This is where God comes into the picture when it comes to choosing a life partner.
God knows everything about our hearts. We don’t need to speak eloquently because He already understands. He is omnipotent and always with us, loving us without fail every moment of every day.
There’s a well-loved hymn titled "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Its lyrics go like this:
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit.
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Simply put, Jesus is a wonderful friend who carries our sins and sorrows. What a privilege it is to entrust everything to God in prayer! Yet, we often lose peace and carry unnecessary pain because we fail to give it all to God.
The ultimate friend surpasses human limitations—this friend is Jesus, God Himself.

III. What Name We Give (How We Interpret)
The third and final choice in life is about what name we give to things—how we interpret them.
19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

Adam was instructed to name the animals, and whatever name he gave them became their name. What does this signify? It illustrates how we interpret the things and events around us, including our past experiences. Consciously or not, we are constantly naming the events of our lives. Things we consider good are given positive names, while things we deem bad are labeled negatively.

A. Naming Past Experiences
Some people give every past event in their life a negative name. They interpret everything that has happened as bad, calling it “the worst,” or saying they were simply “unlucky.” But we must not forget that we have the freedom to name our experiences.Another person might name the same events differently. For instance:

“An opportunity to learn from my weakness.”
“A lesson to help me avoid future mistakes.”
“An experience that strengthened me internally.”
Similarly, we can name people in our past: “A flawed but lovable person,” for example. What names have you given to the people and events in your life? Remember, they become what you name them.

B. Naming the Present and Future
Let’s think about what names you are giving to your present circumstances. Often, our present is colored by the past. But if we want to change, naming the present differently can also transform the future. Some examples of negative names include:

“I’m a failure.”
“Everyone around me is awful.”
“I hate this situation.”

Even God is not spared:
“A deceitful God.”
“A God who doesn’t care.”
“A cruel God.”

Once you assign a wrong name to something, it becomes difficult to change. You begin to believe it deeply. Faith itself is shaped by the words we use regularly.
I had a personal experience with this. As a child, I was chased and bitten by a dog. While playing near my home, a dog came after me, and I ended up at the hospital for daily treatments. Years later, while walking in Taiwan near my accommodation, I saw several stray dogs. They were about the same size as the dog that had bitten me. When one approached me, I froze with fear. My mind was consumed with the memory of that terrifying, painful event, and all my knowledge about how to handle dogs disappeared. What name should I give dogs?
“A dangerous animal that hurt me”?
“An evil creature that should be eradicated”?
Instead, I named dogs as “cute companions” and “animals to live alongside.” This is why I am able to live peacefully with dogs today.

Some people say, “If someone had my life, they would turn out just like me.” But this isn’t true. Life has ups and downs, and everyone experiences both good and bad things. Whether you live joyfully or in despair depends on how you interpret events—what names you give them. When bad things happen, you can still give them good names. Conversely, good things can be given bad names. This applies not only to events but also to people. Even a good person can be given a bad name, and they will become “bad” in your eyes.

Love Your Neighbor
The Bible commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Some neighbors may help us, while others may cause us trouble. But God calls us to love all of them. If you give someone a bad name, it becomes difficult to love them. But if you give them a good name, love becomes possible. To love your neighbor, you must first know yourself—especially your own weaknesses. When you understand your own flaws, you realize that others are not so different from you. Accepting yourself enables you to accept and love others. Therefore, it is wise to refrain from hastily naming others.

Conclusion
Today, we reflected on three important choices in life. Everyone desires a good life.

What we take in: Health begins with what we take into our bodies and minds. Physical health depends on food, and mental health depends on the information we consume.
Who we walk with: Good friends uplift us, and a good partner supports us. While human relationships have limitations, Jesus is the perfect friend who transcends those limitations.
What names we give: Even when faced with challenges, choosing positive interpretations can transform your perspective and your life.
The Bible is the ultimate guide for naming wisely. By reading Scripture, we learn how its characters named events, people, and God. The Bible contains examples of both failure and success, offering us much to learn from the experiences of others. Instead of interpreting good and evil on our own, let’s turn to the wisdom of Scripture for guidance.

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us the ability to choose. If we could not choose, we would be like robots or machines. However, making choices requires wisdom. Please grant us the wisdom to always guide and protect us in our decisions. We also thank You for being our greatest partner. There is no one who can fully understand the deepest cries of our hearts, but You know them and help us work through them. As 2024 comes to an end, help us reflect on how we have lived this year. Guide us so that the coming year may be even more blessed.
We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.