There are days I wish God would do away with all this “free will” nonsense. Being a robotic, wind-up doll wouldn’t be so bad, would it? We’d never screw up. And we’d stop second guessing our decisions. 
Maybe you’re like me. Some of the decisions I’ve made in my life have turned out better than I could have ever hoped for or imagined. But I have also made decisions that have resulted in a heap of pain, sadness and shame.
God dignifies us with free will, the power to make decisions of our own rather than having Him or fate predetermine what we do.
He dignifies us with choice. The question is, do we dignify Him by the choices we make?
It’s free will that gets us in trouble.
It’s free will that cost my nephew his life.
On Thanksgiving day, Brendon lost his battle with the enemy. Like many of us, he had demons. He fought hard and won his share of battles over the years. He built a career, married a loving wife and was blessed with two beautiful daughters. But in the end, the demons returned and Bren lost his life.
God has a plan for your life and mine. But make no mistake, Satan has a plan for us too.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
As a young man, Brendon exercised his free will and unknowingly chose the enemy’s plan. He didn’t see the roaring lion prowling around him. Instead he saw Satan’s plan innocently disguised as “having fun and fitting in”. The only question Bren asked himself was, “Why not?”
One question asked. One decision made. The battle was on!
God doesn’t want us to be His wind-up toy. He wants us to choose Him. Daily. Hourly. To have a relationship with Him. To trust Him with all our hearts. To lean on Him on the good days and the bad.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“ Jeremiah 29:11
This morning, Bren is at peace. Today he knows what God’s true plan was for his life. And in the days ahead, I will pray Psalm 37:6 over his memory. That his righteous reward will shine like the dawn and his vindication like the noonday sun.
The fight is over. There are no more choices to make. The war has been won.
Rest in peace, Sweet Man.