Post by Mark on Oct 12, 2009 5:37:37 GMT -8
As Essential Ingredient for love: the Forbidden fruit
We are convinced that the Lord God of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things is omniscient:
Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; God, and [there is] none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
(Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)
So, one has to wonder, knowing that it was at least within Adam’s capacity to utterly screw up, why did the Sovereign over all put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden to begin with?
And since God is also omnipresent:
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
(Psalms 139:7-11 KJV)
Why didn’t He stop Adam when He saw what was going to happen?
Was He busy with other matters? Was He somehow indisposed? Or, could this whole existence simply be some grand experiment? Okay… maybe not so grand. It might make more sense if there were seven billion people to keep track of; but there was one guy in one garden. And when all things hung in the balance, knowing the deceiver in town, God wasn’t there.
How can we justify this? If I were to leave open containers of poison out in the reach of my children, what would you think of me? How could the God whom we define as Love be so utterly callous?
The answer doesn’t come quickly or easily. in fact, our inclination is to dismiss it as somehow trivial. If we don’t face the inconsistencies of the text as they come to us, we close the door on the opportunities to glimpse in upon the heart of God. He is true and He loves us more than we could ever imagine. He longs for us to ask the question.
We really don’t see the answer clearly until James:
Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
(James 1:12-14 KJV)
Is there anything too difficult for God? James would say that there is one thing that God simply cannot do: that is evil.
So, in the inception of relationship between God and man, there was perfect unity. Yet, as a storyteller, there is something absolutely missing in a perfect relationship. It’s flat. It goes nowhere. There is no growth, there is no passion, there is no intimacy. In essence, where there is damage, there is no love.
Messiah told the story best,
And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee."
And he saith, "Master, say on."
"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?"
Simon answered and said, "I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most."
And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged."
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little."
(Luke 7:40-47 KJV)
You see, God wanted more in the garden than a well-trained puppy that responded on que and command. He wanted more than the seraphim who sing His praises night and day. God longs for intimacy, which is not a created thing; but a series of choices both right and wrong, that draw us after Him in love, devotion and honor.
In Revelation 13:8 we are told that the Lamb (or Messiah) was slain from the foundation of the world. His death and resurrection was not "Plan B" to fix the mistake made in the garden. Adonai formed the man in the garden out of clay, knowing with full appreciation that He would one day die for him.
It’s important for us to not be scandalized by rejection and by offenses when they are brought upon us by those we love. It’s important for us to understand that the process of growing in love toward one another necessitates pain and hard times. I mean, not even God could have the intimate relationship He desires with us without it.
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
(Romans 3:5-8 KJV)
There is some truth to it: that by our sin and going through the process of reconciliation, we are brought closer to the Holy Father… but it’s a half-truth.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
(Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV)
In the garden, Adonai Elohim initiated a process that is designed to be fulfilled in each one of us individually. The question and opportunity presented before us is this: do we want to share an intimate relationship of love with Him or simply be cohabitants in the same universe. The same question is posed in every opportunity you have in meeting someone’s eyes on the street: shall I let this person in to touch the places of my heart that are vulnerable or do I keep on walking?
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was an essential ingredient in coming to terms with who our God is and the relationship He longs to share with us. You can never forgive one who has never done you wrong. You can never draw someone close who has never put distance between you.
The evil one had it right, in a sense, that few of us are ever really willing to come to terms with. When Adam partook of the fruit, he initiated a process that would place us daily in a position of considering whether we will behave ourselves in a manner characteristic of God or not. The deceiver, wittingly or not, placed us in the unique position of understanding what it should mean to offer forgiveness, to be accepted or to be rejected. May we embrace this opportunity. May we draw others close. And in drawing others be drawn closer in love to Him.
We are convinced that the Lord God of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things is omniscient:
Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; God, and [there is] none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
(Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)
So, one has to wonder, knowing that it was at least within Adam’s capacity to utterly screw up, why did the Sovereign over all put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden to begin with?
And since God is also omnipresent:
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
(Psalms 139:7-11 KJV)
Why didn’t He stop Adam when He saw what was going to happen?
Was He busy with other matters? Was He somehow indisposed? Or, could this whole existence simply be some grand experiment? Okay… maybe not so grand. It might make more sense if there were seven billion people to keep track of; but there was one guy in one garden. And when all things hung in the balance, knowing the deceiver in town, God wasn’t there.
How can we justify this? If I were to leave open containers of poison out in the reach of my children, what would you think of me? How could the God whom we define as Love be so utterly callous?
The answer doesn’t come quickly or easily. in fact, our inclination is to dismiss it as somehow trivial. If we don’t face the inconsistencies of the text as they come to us, we close the door on the opportunities to glimpse in upon the heart of God. He is true and He loves us more than we could ever imagine. He longs for us to ask the question.
We really don’t see the answer clearly until James:
Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
(James 1:12-14 KJV)
Is there anything too difficult for God? James would say that there is one thing that God simply cannot do: that is evil.
So, in the inception of relationship between God and man, there was perfect unity. Yet, as a storyteller, there is something absolutely missing in a perfect relationship. It’s flat. It goes nowhere. There is no growth, there is no passion, there is no intimacy. In essence, where there is damage, there is no love.
Messiah told the story best,
And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee."
And he saith, "Master, say on."
"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?"
Simon answered and said, "I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most."
And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged."
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little."
(Luke 7:40-47 KJV)
You see, God wanted more in the garden than a well-trained puppy that responded on que and command. He wanted more than the seraphim who sing His praises night and day. God longs for intimacy, which is not a created thing; but a series of choices both right and wrong, that draw us after Him in love, devotion and honor.
In Revelation 13:8 we are told that the Lamb (or Messiah) was slain from the foundation of the world. His death and resurrection was not "Plan B" to fix the mistake made in the garden. Adonai formed the man in the garden out of clay, knowing with full appreciation that He would one day die for him.
It’s important for us to not be scandalized by rejection and by offenses when they are brought upon us by those we love. It’s important for us to understand that the process of growing in love toward one another necessitates pain and hard times. I mean, not even God could have the intimate relationship He desires with us without it.
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? [Is] God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not [rather], (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
(Romans 3:5-8 KJV)
There is some truth to it: that by our sin and going through the process of reconciliation, we are brought closer to the Holy Father… but it’s a half-truth.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
(Hebrews 12:5-8 KJV)
In the garden, Adonai Elohim initiated a process that is designed to be fulfilled in each one of us individually. The question and opportunity presented before us is this: do we want to share an intimate relationship of love with Him or simply be cohabitants in the same universe. The same question is posed in every opportunity you have in meeting someone’s eyes on the street: shall I let this person in to touch the places of my heart that are vulnerable or do I keep on walking?
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was an essential ingredient in coming to terms with who our God is and the relationship He longs to share with us. You can never forgive one who has never done you wrong. You can never draw someone close who has never put distance between you.
The evil one had it right, in a sense, that few of us are ever really willing to come to terms with. When Adam partook of the fruit, he initiated a process that would place us daily in a position of considering whether we will behave ourselves in a manner characteristic of God or not. The deceiver, wittingly or not, placed us in the unique position of understanding what it should mean to offer forgiveness, to be accepted or to be rejected. May we embrace this opportunity. May we draw others close. And in drawing others be drawn closer in love to Him.
