What will I choose?

Have you ever wondered why God placed a tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden?  Genesis 2 tells us that God placed Adam and Eve in the garden and gave them tremendous freedom. They could eat from the trees of the garden, but God gave them one clear command:  “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
—Genesis 2:17

At first, it might seem like an unnecessary restriction. Why put the tree there at all?

Perhaps one important reason is this: in order for obedience to be meaningful, there has to be an opportunity to disobey.

Every time Adam and Eve walked past that tree without eating from it, they had an opportunity to make a choice. They could say, in effect, “God has told us not to eat from this tree, and because we love and trust Him, we will honor His command.” The tree represented a choice.  And that principle still matters today.

Love Requires a Choice

We often think of love primarily as a feeling, but biblical love is demonstrated through choices.  Jesus said:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
—John 14:15

Love for God is demonstrated when we choose His ways, especially when choosing His ways costs us something.  The same is true in our relationships. If someone has no choice but to love us, we wouldn't really call that love. Genuine love involves the freedom to choose.  Our relationship with God works in much the same way. God doesn't force us to honor Him. He gives us opportunities every day to choose Him.

The Chaplain's Daily Choices

For those of us serving as police and fire chaplains, those choices can sometimes be very subtle.

·      We choose whether we will live above reproach when nobody is watching.

·      We choose whether our conversations will honor God.

·      We choose whether we will protect confidentiality when sharing a story might make us look important.

·      We choose whether we will seek recognition or simply serve faithfully.

·      We choose whether we will respond with patience when someone is difficult.

·      We choose whether we will maintain appropriate boundaries when relationships become complicated.

·      We choose whether we will care more about being accepted by others or remaining faithful to our calling.

These moments may not seem significant at the time. There may be no dramatic consequence attached to any one decision. But each choice is an opportunity to say, “Lord, I choose to honor You.”

Paul writes:  “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
—Colossians 3:23

That is a powerful reminder for chaplains. Our ultimate audience is not the chief, the sheriff, the captain, the officer, the firefighter, or even our fellow chaplains.

Our ultimate audience is God.

Sometimes faithfulness means choosing not to do something.

There will be conversations we shouldn't join.
There will be relationships that require boundaries.
There will be opportunities for recognition that we should pass on.
There will be moments when our flesh tells us to respond one way, while the Spirit calls us to respond another.

Those moments can feel like walking past the tree in the garden.

The tree is there.
The opportunity is there.
The choice is ours.

And when we choose obedience, we are doing more than avoiding sin. We are actively choosing to honor the Lord.

Peter encouraged believers:  “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”
—1 Peter 1:13–15

Living above reproach isn't about pretending we are perfect. It is about intentionally choosing a life that reflects the One we represent.

The Ministry of Presence Begins With Our Own Presence Before God

As chaplains, we talk often about the ministry of presence. We enter difficult places, sit with people in crisis, listen to painful stories, and sometimes simply remain with someone when there are no adequate words.

But before we can faithfully bring the ministry of presence to others, we need to cultivate our own presence with God. That means spending time with Him. Listening to His Word. Praying. Confessing when we fail.  Receiving His grace. And choosing obedience day after day.

Our credibility isn't ultimately built in one dramatic moment. It is built through thousands of small choices.

The decision to tell the truth.

The decision to keep confidence.

The decision to show up.

The decision to pray.

The decision to remain humble.

The decision to walk away from temptation.

The decision to honor God when no one else will ever know what choice we made.

The Tree Is Still There

In a sense, every one of us encounters our own “tree” throughout the day. We are given opportunities to choose. And perhaps that is part of God's design. He has given us the freedom to choose Him, to trust Him, and to honor Him.

So the next time you face a difficult decision, don't ask, “What can I get away with?”

Ask a better question:  “What choice would honor the Lord?”

Because every time we choose integrity over convenience, faithfulness over recognition, purity over temptation, humility over pride, and obedience over self-interest, we are making a declaration with our lives:

“Lord, I choose You.”

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
—Colossians 3:17

For the chaplain, that may be one of the most important parts of the calling—not simply being present when others are hurting, but living a life that consistently honors the God we represent.

The tree is there. The choice is ours. Choose to honor the Lord.

Thank you for Serving the Shield,

Jeff A. Rosenberry