ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 3 of 6 parts being posted Saturday evenings. To read Part 1 click on: ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? For Part 2 click on: ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 2 of 6
The animals were sociable, but they were unlike Adam. So while Adam was sleeping, God made him a partner from his rib. Adam was well satisfied with the woman he named Eve. Together they shared the beauty of the garden while nurturing it. In return, they ate from the richness of the food produced there. Adam and Eve knew good. Everything around them was good. Their relationship to God and to each other was good. There was nothing to fear. Animals weren’t vicious, plants were edible, relationships were rich. Not like life outside the garden gates. They also knew the possibility of something different---evil and its result. And they knew there was a tree in the garden whose fruit would add to this knowledge. It was at this tree that God gave his new creation limits to their freedom. It was the tree of knowledge. God told them to leave this tree alone. They could eat the fruit of all the other trees in the garden, but not from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This was the tree that would test man’s love and trust in God. God wanted man’s love---a love that included respect and obedience. But God wanted his creation to love him voluntarily. This is a very important face. What if I stood up here as your proxy pastor and said: “I am here. I am appointed to represent God to you today in Monte’s place. Therefore, you MUST love me, trust me, obey me. You have no choice.” Now, how do you feel? How do I feel” Isn’t that the point of God providing His first creations with freedom and limits? Love just isn’t real if it is demanded. \\One day while checking the garden, the first couple met the friendly Serpent at the testing tree, the tree confronting man with the choice to believe and accept God’s gifts of goodness in their life or to step out on their own and reject the gifts. The tree wasn’t about making choices. Adam and Eve already had choices in the garden. Adam chose what to name the animals. They were stewards over the garden, which meant they made choices in its care. Visit www.ProBlogs.com/CarolynCHolland next Sunday evening, when Part 4 of ADAM & EVE: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? will be posted. Meanwhile, visit this site daily to read regular posts, and visit the Beanery Online Literary Magazine at www.ProBlogs.com/beanerywriters and scroll down the categories to find more enjoyable reading. Remember to add both these sites to your “favs” list. | 
