Adam and Eve lived in the only perfect example of God’s beautiful design for our lives. God had provided air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, a sense of purpose in their lives, and even one another as suitable companions for the life. God’s picture was beautiful. They saw it. They believed it, too, until an alternative was presented to them.
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" (Genesis 3:1-3 NLT)
The serpent was about to present an alternative to God’s beautiful design. Adam knew God’s design. Eve did, too. They kept away from the forbidden tree so they wouldn’t even have the possibility of encountering the negative side of God’s design.
"You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5 NLT)
The serpent did a masterful job of presenting the forbidden tree as something good, beautiful, and desirable. That’s what serpent’s do. They get us to focus on the one piece of God’s picture that is the warning. The serpent always tries to get us to distrust God. The more we listen to the serpent, the more the serpent wins.
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. (Genesis 3:6 NLT)
God’s design for our lives, even today, is beautiful. We get caught up listening to the serpent, though. We keep asking, “Why that tree? Why that fruit? What good thing is God trying to hold back from us?” We listen to the serpent’s voice in our heads until we finally eat the forbidden fruit. It’s not that we don’t know God’s design. It’s not that we don’t know the consequences. We just trust the serpent more than we trust God.
At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:7 NLT)
God’s design is beautiful, but the alternatives are not. We know that before we try the alternatives. We experience it after we try the alternatives. The question still remains the same. Do we want to be with God or not?
How about you? Do you want to be with God? Do you trust that God’s design for your life is beautiful, or do you find yourself trying out the alternatives?
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