The following was
influenced by this coming week’s Sunday school lesson from The Gospel Project.
It started in a garden: “You may surely eat of every tree of
the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not
eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17
ESV). Adam and Eve knew the ground rules and the consequences.
But along came a question: “[The serpent] said to the woman,
‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden”? …You will
not surely die…’ She took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her
husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:1-6). Doubt and disobedience
entered into the picture.
The result was separation from fellowship with God: “And
they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the
day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord… But
the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis
3:8-9). The consequences still impact us today.
But years later in another garden, another man made a
different decision. Jesus knew what was coming: “See, we are going up to
Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and
scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the
Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the
third day” (Matthew 20:18-19).
He faced the same choice—to trust God’s plan or to seek His
own way: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless,
not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His choice also created
separation from the Father, but it was temporary. “My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). Through His death, He reversed the consequences
that came out of the first garden. “Since therefore the children share in flesh
and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death
He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and
deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery”
(Hebrews 2:14-15). He made the way for us to be restored to the original
relationship God desires with His children.
In our natural, fleshly way we’ve all chosen the strategy of
the first garden, seeking something more than what God has promised. But in
Christ we are enabled to choose obedience even when it is hard. “If anyone
would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).
We can often get the idea that the Christian life is
supposed to be easy. I wish it were easier, but Jesus said it was a daily
choice to pick up the cross, not a daily picnic. Because of that first garden
experience, life has been filled with toil, conflict, and pain. That part won’t
be relieved in this lifetime, but we have the choice to do it God’s way or our
own way each day. Which way will you choose today?
“Choose this day whom
you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua
24:15).
© 2018 Dawn
Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com.
