The Cost of Freedom: Presentation of the Gospel for Adults & Kids
Now that man and woman had been established in their paradise to enjoy and care for God's creation, they could have children as well and thus develop the earth with more image-bearers (humans) who could care for the earth as well and enjoy a relationship with the Creator as well! God's command was to be fruitful and multiply and rule over the earth - cultivate it and care for it and raise up children to do this as well. We ourselves are “Adam” - “earth” - made of the earth but mixed with the Eternal spirit of God - so we care for the “earth” but as we have God in us, we also have a yearning to connect with the Divine as well, and not just be “earth” - “Adam”.
We were made to behold the Eternal one's glory and enjoy Him forever, ever beholding more of His character and love for us, and allowing Him to live through us and accomplish His will - which is also righteous and pure and holy and loving and just.
But an enemy had access to Adam and Eve too. An enemy that had tried to be God himself - exalt Himself above God and do his own will - thus questioning the authority and goodness of the Eternal Holy Creator.
And thus HaSatan - the Adversary in Hebrew, also known as Satan or the Devil, somehow came in the form of a snake, or entered a snake to use to tempt Eve first, and then she would tempt Adam.
The Creator was so gracious that He gave men and women the OPTION to go their own way and try to be their own god, living independently of Him. Nevertheless he warned them, if you do that, you will die - you will cut yourself off from the true source of life in trying to be your own god and you will die.
The Devil appealed to this sense of freedom and independence they could have by eating the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil - mind you, I believe everything was more spiritual in those days - so I don't think it was a simple fruit - but something that changed you from the inside out. And so Eve was attracted to the fruit and liked what it offered, being deceived to partake of it, which she sadly did. And Adam, for whatever reason, went along with her and sinned as well.
I have long wondered why getting the knowledge of good and evil would be bad, though. Isn't that what God wants us to know - right from wrong, so we can do right? I have come to the conclusion that the name of the tree refers more to us independently trying to know what's right and wrong ourselves - US wanting to have the knowledge and even defining our own right and wrong, instead of simply listening to our Father and doing what He says.
It is very interesting, after they eat of the fruit, even GOD admits:
Behold the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:22
So the devil WAS telling a half truth when he told Adam and Eve that they would be like god if they ate the fruit. This is just further evidence that God actually gave the option for man's mind to be changed and be “like Him, knowing good and evil.” I believe God wanted to test them - to see if they loved Him and understood Him to be the great Father of all, and thus would submit to Him, or if they would rebel and choose to be their own god and live off of their own knowledge of what they think is good and evil instead of living in obedience to what the Creator says.
In this light, it was not that the actual fruit was tempting because of its taste or look or texture - it was the temptation of being able to live for self in independence and selfishness instead of having to submit to the Creator.
I don't know about you, but I still FEEL this pull of the fall - the desire to just please myself and do what I want, instead of submit to the Father in love. It is a battle inside - good versus evil. That is why the apostle Paul says we must “die daily” to self - and follow the Master's command to take up our cross daily and follow Him. This is the true way of love - self-sacrificing love instead of seeking to please self.
So in that day, humanity and the world fell into a broken state, cut off from the life and fellowship and love of the Father Creator, now destined to die instead of live forever…
But. The Bible also says God knows the end of things - the future - what will happen. So this great tragedy did not surprise Him. In fact, the great great great love of God knew what it would cost to redeem man and get him connected again to God's eternal life – and HE WAS WILLING to pay this torturous price to take care of man's sin and provide a way for man to be perfected and pure again.
This cost would involve God Himself absorbing, taking our sin somehow, and taking the punishment for it as well - the death and separation from God, so that He could give us back life, our sins having been covered. This great exchange was made possible on the Great Cross of calvary where God sent Himself inside a physical human body to offer His perfect righteousness to us, and somehow absorb all the sin of the world and it's punishment on Himself! All things are possible with Him! Somehow He was able to do that! And then raise His son Jesus again to inherit His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, only submitting to God the Father above Him! Hallelu-Yah - which means PRAISE YAH - God's short name!!!
So. The cost of allowing man to have freedom and ultimately fall into sin and death was the cost of God's own life. If it was me, I would not have even given man an option to sin so I would not HAVE to come down and suffer and die myself!! But our God's love is unfathomable. He did not want robots - He wanted us to CHOOSE Him. And when we didn't, He was WILLING to come down and suffer and die to give us another chance to be with Him forever and enjoy eternal life with Him!!! Praise Him!!!!
Do you believe these things? If you need more understanding or confirmation from God, just pray to Him. Ask Him to show you that He is real and the Bible is true, and I believe He will.
'Til next time, Have a great day kids!
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