Throughout history, humanity has consistently made poor choices when selecting leaders, reflecting the flawed nature of the carnal mind. From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve faced a clear choice between God, who created them and provided every good thing, and satan, who lied and sought to undermine God at every turn. They chose the scoundrel, setting a pattern of choosing leaders who mirror their own flaws, making them feel free and comfortable in their shortcomings rather than challenging them to grow. This pattern continued after the flood with the choice of Nimrod, a rebel against God, as a leader. The people selected him for his ability to fight off wild beasts and provide security, ignoring his opposition to God's will. Their decision to follow Nimrod led to the defiance at the Tower of Babel, resulting in confusion and scattering as God enforced His plan despite their poor choice. In the wilderness, during the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders representing the congregation, the people again made a wrong choice by rejecting Moses and Aaron, God's appointed leaders. They accused Moses of exalting himself, desiring the priesthood for themselves, and ultimately rebelled against God. This poor choice led to disastrous consequences, with the earth swallowing the rebels and a plague striking many others, showing the misery that follows choosing the wicked over the righteous. Israel's demand for a king in the time of Samuel was another instance of a poor choice. Despite warnings about the burdens a king would impose, they rejected God's direct rule and chose Saul, who appeared kingly but failed to obey God. His reign ended in failure and constant warfare, fulfilling the warnings of misery under such leadership. Even after Saul, the people often chose poorly, as seen with Absalom over David and Jeroboam over Rehoboam, leading to civil strife, idolatry, and national division. A profound example of poor choice occurred when the people, along with religious and governmental leaders, chose Barabbas over Jesus Christ. They opted for a rebel, a murderer, and a thief over the sinless Creator and Life-Giver, reflecting humanity's tendency to select leaders like themselves rather than the righteous One backed by God. This choice epitomizes the recurring theme of mankind favoring the wicked over the godly, resulting in dire consequences. These historical instances reveal a consistent trend: when faced with a choice between a righteous leader aligned with God and a scoundrel who mirrors their own nature, people almost invariably choose the latter. This poor decision-making brings misery and destruction, contrasting with the joy and prosperity that come from choosing rightly under God's guidance.

God grants us the freedom to choose our path, yet He desires us to select the way of life as commanded in Deuteronomy 30:19, where He sets before us both life and death. Our choices, whether conscious or habitual, shape our lives, often leading to repeated problems when poor decisions are made. The Bible illustrates the consequences of poor choices through various figures. Lot makes a detrimental decision by settling in Sodom, Esau foolishly sells his birthright, and Saul attempts to harm David, reflecting choices that lead away from righteousness. A striking example is the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17, 19-22, who, despite seeking eternal life and receiving a direct invitation from Jesus to follow Him, chooses wealth and status over discipleship. His poor choice, opting for comfort over charity and service, starkly contrasts with the disciples' decisions to follow Jesus immediately. These everyday choices, both small and significant, determine our ability to overcome sin; poor decisions can hinder our spiritual growth and lead us away from peace and happiness.

From the very beginning, choice has been given to mankind to learn to faithfully be the trustworthy companion of Jesus Christ. Through the millennia, men have made choices, some to follow God's word, but human nature often leads to poor decisions, opting for what seems good rather than what aligns with God's truth. The battle rages within, choosing between personal desires and God's will, especially in a society swept up in deadly choices contrary to His path. God expects us to make the right choices within a world making all the wrong ones, even as He works out His plan beyond the limited thinking of men. He makes things work for the best, even when men make bad and costly choices out of line with His word. God has given the earth to men to make choices, but even when they are wrong, He continues to move His perfect plan forward under His sovereign authority, though these poor choices cause pain and suffering that could have been avoided by staying under the safety of His word. During these divisive and difficult times, we must humbly recognize our privileged responsibility to prepare within a world built on choices apart from God's word. We are not to get involved in any side of a society built on such decisions, ensuring we do not contravene God's laws by losing focus on living the truth of His word. The pain and suffering throughout history, from wars to societal divisions, often stem from refusing to obey God's word, as men find excuses to ignore His truth for their own needs. Our job is to live by every word of God, making the right choices daily to follow the King of kings, steering clear of this troubled world of division that began with poor choices in the garden. We must be dedicated to this time of preparation, without holding affections for anything not built on the foundation of right choices in keeping with God's truth, ensuring we are ready to be Christ's perfected helpmate at His return.