Growing up in a Christian home and community, I had so many questions. When someone dies, for example, a young mother, and leaves her children behind, in some cases without a father, we would often say, "God puts her to rest."

In my youthful mind, I found myself asking, How could a loving God do such a terrible thing?

It became rather clear that most of us Christians do not realize that as in all relationships, time must be spent getting to know and understand the one with whom we endeavor to have that relationship and therefore spend the time getting to know and understand the God in whom we wish to relate. When we do, we will not see Him as cruel and demanding. We would not see Him as one who takes life but rather gives it.

It gives me real joy and excitement to tell everyone I possibly can of a beautiful and loving God whose only desire is to save us, to give life not death. Someone else is responsible for all the evils of this world, certainly not my God. Jesus plainly told His disciples that He did not come to destroy men's life but to save them (Luke 9:54-56).

Do you know that God has a problem? Yes, He does.

God's biggest problem is saving those He loves. In order to save us, He must first destroy sin. However, because His children are infected with this disease, if He destroys sin, He would be destroying His children also. Do you see God's problem? In order to save us, He must first separate us from sin. The big question is, Are we willing to allow Him?

Most of us want to be saved, but we are not willing to be separated from sin. Our loving God has given us the choice. All we need to do is make the right choice--choose Him. He will do the rest.

That choice is recorded in the book of Deuteronomy 30:15, 19. He says:

See I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil; I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

The power of choice is in our hands. It is left to us to make it.