12 SEP 2024 devotional

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:22-24)

Back in my younger, wilder, more rebellious days I was angered at these verses. I remember accusing God of being unfair, of overreacting. I can still recall really tearing into God about this because it went against everything I had been taught by my parents, by my church, and by my flesh. How could God deal so harshly with Adam and Eve? That truly was a block in my spirit (as we Christians like to say) and kept me distant from God for decades.

Years later I had pretty much gone ahead with my life and didn’t address my concerns with God. It was added to the list of “Things I’m Going To Ask God When I Get To Heaven.” Meanwhile, I had to just push it back in my mind and not talk about it. But then one morning as I was reading through the Bible in a year, I had to read this passage again. It was that glorious morning that God showed me why He acted as He had. He is SO PATIENT with His children! And the answer He gave me I would like to share with you today.

God is all about obedience. I always knew that. God is about love. OK, I (kinda) got that – minus the whole Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden. Oh, and the fact that Satan was never allowed to repent as we are. (That’s another discussion for another time.) He is also a God of justice, of righteousness, of judgment. I’ve known that all my life. But where was the justice, where was the grace and mercy about which I’ve heard all my life?

Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, correct? That separated them from fellowship with God, yes? That introduced unbelief, doubt, disobedience, sickness, and death into the world, true? That also elevated Satan (in their minds) to equal standing with God – after all, he was a spirit being and the promise he held out to them (to be like God) came to pass (in a small way). BUT! They still had access to the Tree of Life – the fruit that would (at that point continue to) give eternal life.

What would have happened if they – in that separated, sinful, satanic state – would have run over to THAT tree and eaten of its fruit? They would have lived forever in that state! The whole of mankind would have been forever doomed to hell in that condition. Eternally separated from God, eternally bound to their sin, eternally suffering without the release of death.

But now, unknowingly, by their sinful act of disobedience, they released the plan of God – planned before the foundation of the world – to set in motion His redemption through the blood of Christ. Because mankind was sinful, was evil, was separated from God, we now needed a Savior Who could release us from this satanic plot, this scheme of the enemy. Death, which was and still is a curse, becomes a constant reminder that we are mortal – that we will all one day die (from this earthly realm). This realization drives us to God. It has created within each one of us a hunger and thirst that only He can fill. Mankind searches desparately for a cure, for an escape from this impending doom – but to no avail. Nothing in this world can satisfy that hunger, nothing can quench that thirst until we come to the Bread of Life and the Spring of Living Water. Only then can we find peace and comfort, knowing that we are released from the curse of sin and death and now have been reunited with the One Who created us from the beginning. Hallelujah!

I know I skipped several steps in the logic chain of that revelation, but I pray you will find in this comfort, that you will allow God to speak to you about YOUR “Why?” questions. That you can open up your heart just long enough for Him to break through some light on your sticking points. Maybe you don’t have any. If that’s the case, praise God. I was raised a rebel and only by the grace of God did I make it long enough to drop the rebelliousness as far as I have.

I heard a Catholic priest explain God’s judgment this morning as “severe mercy.” I believe that’s the words he used. Severe – meaning extreme. In this case, doing whatever it takes to accomplish His will in our lives. Mercy – unmerited favor. There is nothing within us that deserves His love, yet He offers it freely to all who will receive. Taken together, God will go so far as to turn us over to Satan for the buffeting of our souls (in Paul’s words) in order that we might return to Him and be saved. I pray for you, my friend, that you never have to experience that severe mercy of God as I have. Turn to Him, trust Him with your questions, but in the meantime accept His love and kindness, knowing that He knows what He is doing.

Be blessed.