Reading: Genesis 1-3
This is the classic-- the original if you will, the full on new beginning text in scripture in my opinion. It talks about the very beginning of a story that continues to live on even today- the story of the beginning of creation. This one I have to admit I often overlook as if to say, "yeah yeah-- 7 days, God made everything- I know this one pretty well". Thats the amazing thing about scripture, no matter how many times you read it God can in one instant reveal something brand new as if you were reading it for the very first time! In the beginning there was absolutely anything- no time, no space, no ground- just God! And he has the great plan to create a world full of humans and all kinds of other amazing creatures to bring him glory. As I look at the way He created all creation and then how humans were made I marvel at his ultimate plan and wisdom. You see, we are the only ones on the planet who have been given the capacity to reason, to think rational thoughts, to make decisions, and think for ourselves (not that we always do that, but it is an option) and we see this in full swing in Genesis chapter 3 when the woman is asked the first question--- this is the first opportunity mankind was given to think for themselves as God has designed us to do- a freedom that He gives so that we are able to make a choice whom we follow and serve--- getting ahead of myself--- the first question came as a seemingly innocent one the serpent simply asks- "soo--- did God really say that you can't eat any of the fruit from any of the trees in this great big ginormous garden??" (becky translation of course) To which she answered no, and explained that it was only one tree in the whole great big place that she couldn't eat off of- and there is where he got her- hook line and sinker! He proposed that it was the selfish ambition of God that told her she could not- but really he didn't want her to know all that he knows because that would run the risk of her being as great as he was.....uhh seriously? but yeah thats basically how that went down- and the thought of wanting something she could not have was introduced
like the child who is warned not to touch the hot stove because it will burn them- she fell right into the trap of needed to test the waters for herself. And from here on out we as humans constantly struggle with the oh so tricky sinful man- because mama Eve and papa Adam opened themselves to the knowledge of good and evil--- I wonder what it might have been like if that never happened? and since it did it was God's will right? so all along God knew that would happen?? My mind could wonder for days with these theological questions that scholars have yet to solve fully but here is my opinion on the matter
God wanted us from the beginning to be free thinkers able to choose-- good vs evil, white bread vs wheat bread, pepsi vs coke--- so many choices in this world and we are given the privilege to choose- in some things there really is no right and wrong, like the whole coke vs pepsi thing... I don't think in the view of eternity it really matters that much, but some choices we are faced with there is a definite right and wrong and when wrong is the choice we make there are many things we must go through because of a bad choice-- for instance, you decide to dye your hair blue--- you end up hating it--- try to dye it back--- end up with this funny purple tint--- try again, it looks green--- you dye it so many times that it all falls out and you start over in a few years
one bad choice takes you on a crazy rabbit trail
with that freedom to make choices we are now able to make the choice either to have relationship with God-- or not to.... but when we make that choice how much sweeter is our love for him than if we had been forced to love and serve him
so in a round about way that was in the heart of God- of course it hurt his heart to see his creation fall into temptation and sin-- but how much greater is our relationship with our heavenly father who chose us and gave us the ability to choose Him!!!
Amazing how a choice to listen to a snake brought us to the relationship of choosing our Heavenly Father daily!
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