Freedom of choice granted by the First Creator holds a profound moral significance – it is not merely the opportunity to do anything one wishes, but the ability for a person to independently determine their life’s direction based on the distinction between good and evil.

The Moral Foundation of Divine Freedom

Freedom of choice granted by the First Creator holds a profound moral significance – it is not merely the opportunity to do anything one wishes, but the ability for a person to independently determine their life’s direction based on the distinction between good and evil. By its very nature, this freedom is not an abstract right to exist or not; rather, it is the foundation for self-determination, through which one can express their individuality and creative spirit.

As noted in one source, “God created man and granted him freedom along with reason, through which man is capable of realizing and manifesting himself as a personality” (source: link txt). This emphasizes that freedom is an inherent trait of personality, embedded in the creation of man. Furthermore, it is underscored that freedom is defined not by the dichotomy of existence and nonexistence, but through the differentiation between good and evil: “Freedom is the self-determination of a person, not in relation to the dichotomy ‘nonbeing – being’, but in relation to the dichotomy ‘good – evil’” (source: link txt). Thus, the choice between different moral qualities becomes the basis of one’s identity.

This bestowed freedom manifests in life through the ability to independently choose a path that can lead both to personal achievements and spiritual growth as well as to deviations. As stated in another excerpt, “The possibility of choice was given precisely so that life in paradise would be not only a gift from the Creator but also a personal merit of man. It is the freedom of choice, or the personal judgment of each individual, by which he evaluates the natural will, accepting or rejecting it…” (source: link txt). Here, it is evident that freedom of choice makes a person a co-participant in his own destiny: every decision matters and reflects one’s personal stance toward the Divine will.

On the other hand, true freedom is not equivalent to arbitrariness or vacillation. It is expressed in the constant striving to choose genuine good – in the capacity to enact the Creator’s will, which renders a person truly free. It is stated as follows: “True freedom is the ability to always, unwaveringly, and infallibly choose the genuine good. Freedom is the ability to enact God’s will” (source: link txt). This assertion emphasizes that freedom is not the absence of boundaries, but the capacity to steer one’s desires and actions along the path of higher moral principles.

Moreover, the gift of freedom implies that a person, granted the right to choose independently between good and evil, bears responsibility for their decisions, which is reflected in everyday actions. As seen in the reflections, “God created us free and gave us the right to choose our own path of goodness and virtue or the path of vice and evil” (source: link txt, page: 84). Here, freedom of choice is seen as a life opportunity for each individual to consciously direct their life towards the better, even though this right is closely accompanied by the risks of error.

Thus, the freedom of choice granted by the First Creator represents a fundamental opportunity for an individual to independently determine their moral guidelines and act according to their inner judgment of good and evil. It manifests in life through constant self-assertion, responsibility for one’s decisions, and an earnest endeavor to align one’s will with the true, everlasting good.