SO MANY CHOICES

SO MANY CHOICES

WHEN LIFE DOESN’T MAKE SENSE – Part 2

Vernon Zook September 28, 2025

The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” … So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:6b (NLT)

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made…For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” – Genesis 3:17-19 (NLT)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. – Romans 5:12 (NLT)

1. Every decision has a .

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (NLT)

2. I choose how I will to life’s difficulties.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! – Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)

3. I choose how I respond to .

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. – Luke 6:27-28 (NLT)

4. I choose how I respond to God’s .

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. – Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. – Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:17 (NLT)

…When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. – Galatians 3:13b (NLT)

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. – John 1:12 (NLT)

Then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, … but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:15 (NIV)