The concept of "The Call to Choose" is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of human free will and the necessity of making decisions that align with God's will. This theme is woven into the fabric of biblical narrative, law, prophecy, and wisdom literature, underscoring the responsibility of individuals to choose between obedience and disobedience, life and death, blessing and curse.

Old Testament Foundations

The call to choose is first explicitly presented in the Pentateuch. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Moses addresses the Israelites, saying, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." This passage highlights the covenantal context in which the Israelites are called to make a decisive choice to follow God and His commandments.

The narrative of Joshua also emphasizes this theme. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenges the people of Israel, saying, "But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Here, the call to choose is presented as a personal and communal decision, with eternal consequences.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets frequently called the people of Israel to make a choice between following God or pursuing idolatry and sin. Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is a vivid example. In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah challenges the people, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." This call to choose underscores the necessity of exclusive devotion to the LORD.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also reflects the call to choose. Proverbs 1:29-31 warns of the consequences of rejecting wisdom: "For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices." Here, the choice to reject wisdom is equated with a rejection of the fear of the LORD, leading to self-destructive outcomes.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the call to choose is central to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus presents the choice between two paths in Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." This teaching emphasizes the difficulty and exclusivity of the path to eternal life, requiring a deliberate choice to follow Christ.

The apostle Paul also addresses the call to choose in his epistles. In Romans 6:16, he writes, "Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?" Paul presents the choice between sin and righteousness as a matter of spiritual allegiance, with profound implications for one's eternal destiny.

Theological Implications

The call to choose is deeply rooted in the biblical understanding of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. While God is sovereign and His purposes will ultimately prevail, Scripture affirms that individuals are accountable for their choices. This tension is evident in passages like Philippians 2:12-13, where believers are exhorted to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure."

Throughout the Bible, the call to choose serves as a reminder of the moral and spiritual agency granted to humanity by God. It challenges believers to live lives marked by faithfulness, obedience, and devotion to the LORD, recognizing that their choices have both temporal and eternal significance.