That can best be answered back in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden. When God made man he placed him in the most perfect place to have ever been on earth. He gave him everything he needed, including a wife. God gave Adam and Eve
- Genesis 2:15-17 (New International Version)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God gave them one command, just one, "you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." One rule, and what do they do, they do it. I wonder if God had not told them if they would have eaten it? Some people will do the opposite just to see what happens. Of course they were deceived by Satan.
- Genesis 3:1-6 (New International Version)
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Notice how Eve repeats the rule back to the serpent. Also notice that Adam was right there with her. Also notice how Satan appeals to her pride of being God-like. Funny how the men always blame Eve for this part, but Adam willing broke the rule with her.
Good or bad, God gave us freedom to choose. We are free to choose our own path, make our own decisions. I have the freedom to walk out in the middle of a busy road, drive with my eyes closed (or text, same difference), kick a wild grizzly bear, run with scissors, stick a fork in an electrical outlet, etc. Maybe if I do these things my eyes will be opened and I can be like God? How did their choice affect us today? How does anyone's choices affect others?
Think about the choices you make this week and come back here next week for the rest of the story.
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