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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
Man has been created by his Maker as what we often term a "free-moral agent," meaning that man is not
robotic, but is free to make his own decisions as to what path he chooses in life. The very nature of man's
existence demands this fact as a reality; for when God said, "of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden
shall ye not eat" (Gen 3:3) man's ability to not eat also constituted his ability to eat. Thus man's choice to
obey was accompanied by his choice to not obey, for without one the other cannot exist, just as love cannot
exist without hate, for without the one the other is absolutely meaningless. So it is, then, that if man can
choose to "keep" the "commandments" of Jesus as an expression of his love toward His Creator, Savior and
Redeemer (Jn 14:15), he can also choose to "trod under" his "foot" the blood of the covenant (Heb 10:29).
James presents this same reasoning when he explains, "man is drawn away by his own lust and enticed" (Jms
1). In essence no one can make anyone do anything, no not even by putting the proverbial "gun to the head,"
for even then man has a decision, granted the penalty may be a grave one, nonetheless the decision remains
present. Thus it remains that no one can make you be faithful to the Christ, this is a decision that you have to
make on your own, which decision is a manifestation of the intent of your heart (Prov 23:7).
Votaries, as much as is emphasized the need to "search the Scriptures daily" (Ac 17:11), the need to
"seek and save the lost" (Lk 19:10), the need to "purify your souls" (1 Pet 1:22), the need to protect the mind
(1 Pet 1:13), etc. no one can make anyone do it. Each of us is in need of making the conscious decision of
deep rooted conviction that the cause of Christ is right, and that it demands the full service of my being (Matt
22:37). Our good intentions must be manifest in our actions of service to the Master (Matt 4:10).
Those who are active in the work of the kingdom have proven what is the matter of their heart, "for where
your treasure is there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21). One whose treasure is being stored in heaven is
active in "seeking those things which are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (Col 3:1, 2).
This person has "put to death" his "members which are upon the earth" (Col 3:5), for "Christ" is his "life" (Col
3:4). In contrast, he who is busy meddling in worldly affairs is laying up treasure in the wrong place; hence his
heart is not right with God (cf. Ac 8:20). This man refuses to come to the living water and drink that he may
never thirst again (Jn 4), because he has no desire to taste the streams of life. Just as the horse can be
brought to water, but not made to drink, so is the Christian who is continuingly taught, but fails to react. He is
a "hearer of the word" and "not a doer," for he has "deceived" himself (Jms 1:21-25).
Though no one can make you give your full dedication to God, it should be pursued as a wise course,
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it" (Matt 7:13, 14). So, then, in the words of Joshua, "choose you this day whom ye will
serve" (Joshua 24:15), for the choice is yours to make as to whom you will serve. Just remember, the
consequences are also yours to bear, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" (Rom 6:23).