Is Everything in Your Life a Reflection of a Choice You Once Made?
People love themselves. We call each soul “self.” The ambition of the natural man is to advance him-self in this world. Most are convinced that much manipulation, a bit of good fortune, and quite a bit of perspiration and persistence are required for success (whatever that is).
Cause and effect also play a major role in one’s life-story being told. At the root of man-centered theology is the secret desire for the eradication of God. The degree of discomfort with God varies, but that is often a product of one’s exposure to Satan’s lies. A godless home, coupled with secular education, and limited exposure to vocal believers is problematic.
There is no shortage of godless worldviews offered by science, government, business, and philosophy, which has birthed psychology. One idea recently put forth, for me to choke on was, “Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you once made. If you want different results, make different choices.”
Man-centered theology claims to be rooted in the Bible because “God” is mentioned in its message. In truth, it is rooted in the philosophies of men. Consider the subject of this quote: “you.” It is a rather profound statement because of both its universal and absolute features. “Everything in your life,” is pretty all-encompassing.
The catalyst for “everything in your life” is purported to be your choice(s). If you want to change your life, which is the most prominent pitch for men to sell products and services, today, then it is in your wisdom and your power to do so. At least, that is what the angel-of-light adherents and advocates of the power of positivity would have you believe.
Positive thinking is a false gospel that has easy and open access into the church, which in its American version is a “no negativity zone.” This is why every true believer should come out from topical preaching venues. The topic of choice each week is selected, with or without the Bible, by someone who gets paid to make people feel good about themselves, by what he says.
Positivism is a false light in the darkness of this world. That is why it seems right to so many Christians. Humanism is all about human empowerment, which was first introduced in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve, by Satan posing as the serpent (Gen 3:5).
Special interest groups form, especially with people who feel as if they have been oppressed by some other, larger group. Although the message of the group begins with positive thoughts, ideas, and actions — invariably, because of sin — it de-escalates into bitter rhetoric, with claims of victimization. The positivism is replaced by angry activism.
In an effort to be universally inclusive, American churches turn from the exclusivity of Holy Scripture, with its message of exclusivity. Humanism, with lots of self-help psychology, is employed instead. Because “church” is on the sign, except where the particularly offended meet, certain “proof texts” are chosen for selected topical chats (formerly known as “the sermon”).
In the Bible and in reality, God is sovereign (Ps 115:3; 135:6). He is all-wise and all-powerful to accomplish His will (Eph 1:11), derived from His eternal purpose (Eph 3:11). It is the will of God that some receive Jesus Christ (Jn 1:12–13), in order that He saves them (Mt 1:21; Titus 3:5). It is God’s sovereign and free choice to have mercy, upon whom He will have mercy (Rom 9:15–16, 23).
Thus, here is something quite significant that exposes the lie that “everything in your life is a reflection of your choice.” Far from being god-like choosers, the Bible reduces man to the dust of the earth. Man is but animated clay, some of which is formed by the Potter into vessels of wrath prepared for eternal destruction (Rom 9:22). Other men of dust are saved from this destruction, by the mercy and grace of God, their Maker and Redeemer.
Sadly, the sovereignty of God in salvation is the minority view in the visible church. Roman Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Federal Vision Presbyterians, General Baptists, along with all Pentecostals adhere to the humanism of Arminianism or Pelagianism. The sacred idol is man’s autonomous free will and choice, to control the salvation that belongs exclusively to God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).
Friend, do not be fooled by the doctrine of demons, which puffs man up with the pride of self. Search the Scriptures for yourself, to find God’s revelation of the state of man, which is total depravity (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10–12; 8:7; Eph 2:1–3, 12). This is the absolute state of the natural man (1 Cor 2:14), dead in his trespasses and sins, possessing zero ability to make a choice to change his life (Rom 8:7). For any man to claim that everything in his life is the result of his choices is utterly absurd.
Christian, if this is what you believe — that you are a product of your choices — then, you must repent of that man-centered, humanistic world view, so prevalent in American churches, today. Pray that God would open your eyes to see that you are His creature, His slave, and that your days are all known to Him even before there was yet one of them (Ps 139:16).
God is glorified when you know, believe, and preach that He is the author of everything that happens in your life (Heb 12:2). He accomplishes everything that concerns you (Ps 57:2; 138:8), even that which does not concern you (Is 46:10) because He is God, the Alpha and the Omega, and you are not. Of course, you did not choose that either.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 1, 2022
