“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
Sometimes when I think about our expulsion from the garden, I wonder if we got off lighter than we should have. We had it all, but that was not enough, and we ended up breaking the first-ever Do Not Touch rule. Our first act of disobedience resulted in God kicking us out of the garden but, He did not kick us off the planet. He did not erase us from the earth, nor did he add an obedience upgrade to our nature. We remain version 1.0 created in His image.
Despite His disappointment, He showed love and hope in His creation.
God had given Adam the garden rules, including the one about avoiding the tree of knowledge. Adam shared this rule with Eve but didn’t seem to emphasize God’s direction well enough. I often imagine that day as starting like any other. Adam and Eve planned a stroll in the garden, but Adam, like all the men that followed him, probably didn’t take the time to ask directions to where the walk was going to take them. He may have walked aimlessly, possibly hoping they could get back on the path that leads to good things. But, before they knew it, they were looking up at the place they were told to avoid.
Who was lurking about ready to take advantage of the situation? Satan!
That walk had eternal consequences, including the introduction of the blame game. When caught, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed Satan. On the advice of Satan, Eve took the fruit off the tree and had the first bite. However, scripture suggests Adam watched this whole scene unfold and did nothing; he even had a bite himself. I think God wanted to make a point about blame because we read that although Eve touched and bit the fruit first, it was after Adam had a piece, did they both recognize they were naked. The sin of vanity overtook them and appeared after their joint act of disobedience.
Sins and pointing fingers started in the garden and flourishes today. God knew this to be a human shortfall, but He did not abandon us. Even as he was chastising us at the garden gate, He revealed His plan to reconcile our relationship with Him. He spoke of a future heir that would correct the wrongs. He handled the situation as the loving Father we know Him to be. He even shared a couple of lessons for us to take away from the garden.
The garden was a taste of what God had in store for us in eternity.
In the garden, God showed that disobedience must be addressed, blame is irrelevant, and that only by His grace will we have another chance. He also pointed out that no matter what path we take or how disobedient we become, He will meet us wherever we end up and will offer reconciliation. Throughout His scripture we learn that the One who spoke the universe into existence wants to speak with us. He freely offers eternity and allows us to accept or reject it.
In the garden, God did not hide his intent or expectations; He told Adam. He has used scripture to share His intent for us (eternity with Him) and His expectations (the wages of sin is death). God wants us to recognize that we all have sinned. He wants us to accept responsibility for our actions and to repent for our transgressions. He also wants us to recognize and believe that He sent and allowed the blameless one, Jesus, to die so that we could get back on the path to heaven. God reveals the truth, helps us understand that truth, and while we have breath in our lungs, He longs for us to accept that truth.
Have you accepted the truth? If not, ask God now, and you will receive it. Do you know someone who has not accepted the truth? Pray now for their salvation and seek them out to share God’s intent for their life.