What Would You Do?

Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

What if you had been in the Garden of Eden in place of Eve? Would you have fallen into the temptation of the serpent? OR Would you have been obedient to God? A few months ago this question was asked to me which triggered some critical thinking. Ultimately, I see this as foreshadowing for years to come in the lives of each and every one of us. Eve was tempted with something she knew she shouldn't have yet she takes it anyway thus having to suffer the consequences of her disobedience and sin.

This is an example of desiring more than what we need. Although God had given Adam and Eve everything they needed the serpent tricked her into wanting more. Today we live in a world of excess where "more is merrier" and "bigger is better" which has contorted what God wants us to know and believe. Let's not forget that God will supply all of our needs according to Philippians 4:19; therefore, we do not have to take things into our own hands as we often try to. You see what happens when we do that.

So, my response to that question in that moment was "I can't say what I would or would not have done during that day and age. However, I can say that there are many things that God has forbid me from doing that I have done. With that I can say that essentially I am my own version of Eve." For us, the forbidden fruit could be pre-marital sex, lies, drunkenness, and etc. Whatever you have done that you know is not of God is in fact forbidden fruit. Take a moment to think about all the forbidden fruit you have enjoyed. And yes, I say enjoyed because most of the time the devil will make the forbidden fruits seem like it was worth going against God. Furthermore, he needs it to be good so that you'll continue to seek after it. Be careful.

It seems to be second nature for us to wonder "What if" or "If it had not been for this that wouldn't have happened". Eve faced the consequences of her own sin. True we have inherited some of those consequences, but it's nothing that we have not adapted to in this new age. So, let's stop blaming Adam and Eve's mistake for our reckless behavior. It is not what they did that has us continually eaten the forbidden fruit that we have grown to love in the face of a forgiving God. We have become so lax with sin that we no longer fear nor acknowledge the consequences that come along with it.

So the question now turns into "What WILL you do when the enemy tempts you in your garden?" Will you continue to pick and eat forbidden fruit? OR Will you look the enemy in his eyes and say "My God's word mean more to me than yours, I trust and believe Him thus I will be obedient to Him".