The Greatest “Choose Your Own Adventure”: How Will You Choose?

We are presented with many choices every day regarding how we will think, speak and act. Though we have the free will to make whatever choice we want, should we?

Remember “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? They allowed you to be the central character in the story, and you had to make choices about the direction of the story as you read. Those choices then led to different story lines. For me, the worst part was getting to the page that said “THE END” because then the story was over. 

An interesting “Choose Your Own Adventure” story

You are on your way to work, and you can fly. As you arrive at work, you see two distinct crowds forming. You get a little closer and see two prominent figures arguing very heatedly. You get closer until you are a few feet away and hear their words:

“Have you lost your mind? Hey, I’m talking to you! Lucifer! Are you insane?”

“I’m not going to say it again, Michael. Join us or get out of the way. Either way, I’m taking that throne. I am the morning star, and it belongs to me.”

Lucifer’s crowd begins yelling and starts surging slowly forward, pressing against Michael and his angels. Then, all of a sudden, Lucifer and Michael look right at you.

“Which side are you on?”

If you say Lucifer, turn to page 54. If you say God, turn to page 57.

We’ll finish this somewhat speculative story at the end. I say speculative because we have no idea how exactly the angelic rebellion happened, but we do know that a third of the angels were caught up in Satan’s revolution. 

They had to make a choice: to either continue following God or to follow the rebellious, prideful Lucifer. God presents us with a choice that is similar.

Choose life

Deuteronomy 30:19 is probably the Bible’s most well-known verse about choice. It was given to ancient Israel by Moses as part of his final plea before his death: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

Moses didn’t tell the people of Israel to choose whatever they wanted; He urged them to choose life! God is a loving Father and doesn’t force anyone to make the choice He recommends—but He also doesn’t passively say, “Just choose whatever you want to do.” He wants us to choose life!

Choose whom you will serve

Another example is found in Joshua 24. This one was given to the people of Israel by Joshua, again as part of a final plea before his death: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (verse 15).

Joshua made it clear that a choice needed to be made. In verse 14, he strongly urged them to “serve the Lord!” He presented both sides, but at the end he plainly stated what his choice was.

It is like someone who has already read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book telling you, “Don’t choose that option because it leads to a bad ending.” We might respond, “I’ll choose whatever I want!” But why not say, “Maybe I shouldn’t choose that because of where it will lead”?

Joshua also told them to choose today. Waiting indefinitely to make important, positive, life-changing decisions becomes a choice in itself—a poor choice.

The rest of the story

What page did you turn to earlier? 

After an angelic battle in which Lucifer and his forces are defeated, the bitter leader of the losing group is brought screaming and howling before God with utter hatred. God hurls him out of heaven with a flick of the wrist. He falls from heaven like lightning. 

If your choice is Lucifer, you are now hurtling toward earth, changing from angel to demon. Now you’re awaiting a final sentence: to be locked away forever.

If your choice is Satan’s way of life, turn to page 185.

God knows what is on page 185. He knows that page says, “THE END.” That’s the page He doesn’t want us to end up on.

As God wanted His angels to choose to stay loyal to Him, He also wants us to choose Him and His ways. If your choice is God’s way of life, turn to page 186, and your book will never end.

God does give us a choice, but He always urges us and wants us to choose correctly. He loves us and wants our adventure to last forever.

To learn more, read “Turning Points: Crises and Choices That Can Change Your Life.”