paradise lost

Text: Genesis 3

I can picture Eve walking in the garden that day. Unique and beautiful animals all around her, very Snow White-esque. Gold and topaz and diamonds scattered on the ground ala Cartier (Ezekiel 28:13), and glorious plants and food, an abundant furnishing for her world (I’m going with Whole Foods meets the Amazon rainforest here). Gracious provisions and so much more! It is paradise. Perfection.

I wish that was all there was to tell – that the story would end here.

But then comes chapter 3 verse 1 and the serpent enters the scene. The music gets low and ominous. Calamity is looming. The opponent of Christ, the deceiver of the brethren, a beast of the field, approaches Eve and all I want to do is shout as if in slow motion, “nooooooo!”.

And the story does continue.

The tempter speaks, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Eve untwists his lie for him, but the evil one continues, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Like God?

At this thought all of the animals and gardens and precious stones are dull to her. She is no longer content among His plentiful provisions and only one thing now lights her eye. It is the one thing she is told she cannot have.

I want to blame Eve for what she does next. I want to be so mad at her! But friends, I stand today just as guilty as she. She knew and I know that there is only one God. And we both have everything we could possibly need in Him. But the thought of being in control – of being independent of my need for Him – and calling all of my own shots? Of being the god of my own life? I’m afraid to say I have taken a bite of that same life-condemning fruit. I have been discontent to trust the Lord God in the garden of provisions he has made for me.

Guilty.

And with Eve’s sin and Adam’s too, life as they know it is over. (Rom 5:12) Satan’s promise was an empty one. And life as we know it now includes death, pain, disease, sorrow, and a deep and apparent need for a Redeemer.

I may have wanted the story to end with Eden, but I’m sure grateful it doesn’t end here.

We are no longer in Eden, but we do have a Great Provider who will give us all we need when we need it (Matt 6:25-34).

And the serpent? The serpent is crafty now as ever. (2 Cor 11:3) And the Bible says that the thief still comes to steal and kill and destroy (Jn 10:10). But we need not fear him, for the doom of Satan has already been sealed. (Jn 16:11, Col 2:15, Rev 12:9 & 10, Rev 20:10)

And for us today? God’s Word is beautifully clear on that as well.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4