What would you do if you could cut loose, what would you do if there were no consequences to your actions, if all of life was set before you, nothing withheld for any reason, what would your life be like?
The moral constructs, the rules and regulations of both man and God are set in place for a very specific reason, free agents cannot be allowed complete freedom, for they would all desire to be God, “I will” (Isaiah 14:14) was not just relative to Lucifer, it is the standard that all desire to bear, whether they will admit it to themselves or not, worship of others is just a secondary clause to the one who is in complete control of all there is. “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” (Gen. 11:6) What do you think that means, why put a stop to the advancement of mankind, was God afraid that man would become too powerful, too knowledgeable, was He concerned that we would usurp His authority, did not Jesus say “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” (John 10:34) quoting what He Himself wrote in Psalm 82:6? What would you do if nothing was withheld from you?
We balance our lives between the laws that are placed before us and the moral beliefs that have been placed inside of each and every one of us, the eternity that has been placed in every individual. (Eccl. 3:11) What you know to be wrong all men know to be wrong, they do not need anyone else to tell them so, wrong and right, good and evil are not relative to the circumstances at hand, they are dogmatic, unchangeable, they are in essence a part of Almighty God within every single person. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26) Even a child can understand this is not to mean the outward appearance, but the very nature, the very character of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the advent of sin in our lives has morphed us into a different form of creation, so to speak, we are part good, part evil, we are part God and part Satan.
God is unchangeable, (Malachi 3:6) His character traits, His attributes are based completely upon righteousness, Holiness, Satan is evil, the father of lies, (John 8:44) a murderer from the beginning. Because we carry a sin nature within us, and because we have the character traits, in part, of the Most High, we are, to say the least, complex individuals, add within this equation the fact that we are free moral agents, and the possibilities to grasp firmly either side of the construct when contemplated as to the question, “What would you do if you could do anything at anytime with no fear of any consequences,” can drive a man mad.
One cannot merely say, “I would create havoc, all would serve me, all of my pleasures and delights would be for self-adoration, for self-fulfillment, and consumption continuously,” for we have been made in the image of God, selflessness, humility, love, all of these things and more of the finest character traits are within each of us, but one could not on the other hand say, “I would make sure all are fed, all are content and happy, a life of continuous joy and contentment I would give to all,” for we are sinful creatures, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) It is more than a quandary, but it is not a moot point, for you can do anything that you want to do, but there is a catch, you cannot be God.
Herein is where the rage of Satan finds its home, here is when he begins to roar like a lion, (1 Peter 5:8) the truth that he is not sovereign, never has been, never will be, and that incredible fury is poured out against God in every possible way that it can be. Pride found a home in Lucifer, iniquity transformed him into Satan, and the exact same attributes have turned mankind into rebellious enemies of God.
The answer to the question is simple, if you could do anything all the time, you would be God, so then, since you are bound by no man, what kind of god are you? You are the one running your life, even a prisoner in the darkest dungeon has complete control over his thoughts. The knowledge of the Most Sovereign Creator brings with it only two choices, pride or humility, servitude or denial, there are no other options, free will demands one or the other when set in the face of a Sovereign God. Satan will not humble himself, and God serves no one, and we have the character traits of both, no wonder so many live a life of confusion. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19) Paul knew these words to be truth, and his answer was the same as all of ours should be, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) We want what we do not have, and we do not want what we have. My friends, we are most definitely fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
What each of us has been given is this, a choice, the facts have been laid before us, there is one Sovereign Lord, and it is not you, He has set the path to righteousness before all men, and it comes with a heavy price, the death of self, the willful, conscious act of never being able to say again, “I will,” the complete denial of our desires must be abandoned for what he desires. If not, then you are in open rebellion, for there is still a part of you that is saying, “I will, not thy will.” This is the hatred of evil, the very spawn of open rebellion, the knowledge that you will, whether you like it or not, always serve Almighty God, whether in heaven or in hell, the rebellious soul will never be content until they realize this fact, God alone is in charge, He shares power with no one, you are and always will be a servant.
Such is the gift of free will, pride or humility are the only options. The servant is not above the master, (Matt. 10:24) but the Master has given the opportunity for the servant to be called His friend, (John 15:14) all will submit, the timing of that submission has been left up to you.
