The Supreme Choice

As I described in my essay on free will, there are only two core choices made by a spiritual entity - chose to be in union with God or chose to be God. I classify these choices as supreme because of the momentous effect and consequence that each choice brings about. Thus, I refer to each of these as the supreme choice.

Not convinced about the supremacy of these choices? Let's reflect for a moment on the two greatest documented moments of temptation in the history of mankind. Both of these have one thing in common, both focus squarely on a single, principal objective - entice and lure the object of temptation into making a choice to break from God and be God. If a tempter had one and only one chance at tempting a spiritual entity, why would the tempter waste it on something of lesser value and significance. If I were the tempter, I would go straight for the "kill"...and getting such an entity to make a choice to be God is a definite, super-duper, slam-dunk "KILL".

The first greatest moment of temptation brought about mankind's fallen and imperfect state when Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil after being told that by doing so, he would have divine wisdom and thereupon become equal to God.

The second greatest moment of temptation came in the form of a series of temptations designed to subvert the mission of the new Adam in redeeming mankind from the consequences stemming from the choice made by the first Adam. In all three documented attempts, Jesus was tempted to perform Godly acts to benefit Himself (temptation to be God) and make a choice to break away from God.

In rebuking all such attempts and temptations, Jesus went on to fulfill His mission of redemption for mankind and by His sacrificial death on the cross, He filled the gulf that separated mankind from God (created as a result of the first Adam's choice) with His blood, thereby enabling all souls who chose to be in union with God to reconnect with God via this blood.

As Jesus Himself taught, there is "no greater love than a man lay down his life for a friend". The act of supreme love in the form of the willing death of Jesus on the cross is the only spiritual antidote potent enough to neutralize and wipe away the poisonous effects of the supreme choice made by the first Adam. With this explanation, I hope that we can all appreciate and understand why this sacrificial death was necessary.

Can you see why this narrative is referred to as "The Good News"?

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