Never Choose to Be Lost
Why Ignorance and Rebellion Are Dangerous
One of the most sobering realities taught in Scripture is that God has given each of us free will—the ability to choose how we will live our lives. This gift, while demonstrating God’s love for us, also comes with immense responsibility. We can choose to follow Him and experience eternal life, or we can reject Him and face eternal separation. Tragically, some people deliberately choose to be lost, while others, through ignorance or misunderstanding, falsely believe they are saved.
In this post, we will examine the dangers of making the choice to be lost, the role of free will, and how the Bible teaches that our actions and decisions directly impact our relationship with God.
The Role of Free Will
God created humanity with the ability to choose. He desires that we follow Him willingly, not as robots programmed to obey. Deuteronomy 30:19 reminds us of this choice:
"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" (NKJV).
The choice is clear: life or death, blessing or cursing. While free will is a gift, it can be abused when we reject God’s will and pursue our own desires.
Misusing Free Will: The Danger of Ignorance
Many believe that simply acknowledging God is enough to secure their salvation, but the Bible teaches otherwise. James 2:19 warns:
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"
Belief alone is not sufficient; it must be accompanied by obedience. Jesus Himself emphasized this in Matthew 7:21:
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Some misuse their free will by remaining ignorant of God’s expectations, assuming they are saved without ever obeying the gospel. They believe their free will ends once they “accept” Jesus, thinking there’s nothing they can do to lose salvation. However, Hebrews 10:26-27 makes it clear that deliberate sin after knowing the truth has eternal consequences:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment."
This is a sobering warning to those who assume they cannot fall away.
Deliberately Choosing to Reject Jesus
Others make a conscious decision to reject Jesus. They choose the pleasures of this world, dismissing the idea of eternity or assuming they have plenty of time to repent later. Yet Scripture is clear:
1 John 2:15-17 warns against loving the world:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Proverbs 27:1 cautions against delaying repentance:
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."
Choosing the world over Jesus or delaying the decision to follow Him is a dangerous gamble. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
The Bible Teaches That We Can Be Separated from God
Contrary to the belief that nothing can separate us from God once we believe, the Bible repeatedly warns that our choices can sever our relationship with Him:
Isaiah 59:2:
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
John 15:6:
"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."
Jesus makes it clear that abiding in Him—remaining faithful—is necessary. Free will is ongoing, and we must continually choose to follow Him.
The Remedy: Obeying the Gospel and Living Faithfully
The Bible outlines the clear path to salvation:
Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17).
Believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 16:16).
Repent of sins (Acts 3:19).
Confess faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10).
Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Live faithfully unto death (Revelation 2:10).
Following this pattern requires continually choosing to walk in obedience and repentance.
The Urgency of the Choice
Whether through deliberate rebellion or ignorance, the choice to be lost has eternal consequences. Free will is a precious gift, but it is also a weighty responsibility. Joshua 24:15 challenges us to make the right choice:
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."
The call to follow Jesus is urgent. Let us not gamble with eternity by delaying or dismissing this decision. Instead, let us use our free will to choose life, abiding in Christ, and walking faithfully with Him.
"For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2, NKJV).
Choose wisely—your eternity depends on it.