Choose Wisely

Chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla? When it comes to ice cream, those three flavors are rarely the only ones available in today’s specialty ice cream shops with their myriad of palate-pleasing options. The great news is that choosing an ice cream flavor has little to no impact on your life’s destiny.

We make choices every day; some are easy, and some are quite difficult. Consider Joshua’s speech to the Israelites on the eve of their arrival at the promised land. He relayed God’s message to them that the choice of whether to serve Him or one of a variety of pagan gods was theirs.

Think of everything God had done for the Israelites up to that point. He had brought them out of slavery in Egypt and watched over them, ensuring their safety, throughout their forty years of wandering. He provided them with food, shelter, and refuge. Still, despite all the resources and blessings He bestowed upon them, God gave them agency in making their decision.

Naturally, one might assume the Israelites would be grateful for everything God had done for them and eagerly want to serve him. But godly love never assumes. God was never interested in the Israelites serving Him purely out of obligation. He understands that true love doesn’t coerce. He wanted their true devotion, and He wants the same from us.

Out of His infinite love, God has provided us a whole world filled with endless possibilities of goods, including ice cream! And ice cream is a good example of the irony in making choices of our own. We may think we are in control in selecting a flavor, that we have authority. But once that sweet creaminess touches the tongue, it becomes quite clear that it’s the ice cream that has mastered us. Choose wisely!

To God alone be glory!