byHow does it feel to be given freedom to do whatever you like, but with only one limit? Isn’t it okay? Yes, it is. Right. For instance, not eating one food out of the many varieties of food in the world today is no big deal, especially if you know that such an exemption can cause you health problems. In fact, many people follow doctors’ recommendations to avoid certain meals, and that’s okay. But when it comes to Biblical matters, many people feel God wasn’t fair with Adam when He forbade him from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In this article, I will delve deeper into why God set that limit and how it helps us, as believers in Christ, to walk in divine obedience.
God’s limits are for your protection
God is a very generous God. He liberally gives wisdom to whoever asks Him for it (see James 1:5). He, through Jesus, sets people free when they get saved (see John 8:36). So, anytime He puts a limit to something, it is always for the good of the benefactor and nothing bad. For instance, when God tells you not to accept an offer, it may hurt you because you want the money. But God is omniscient. He knows what you will go through if you apply for it. So, in order to save you from that ordeal, He says, ‘Stop.’ But in many cases, people disobey Him only to face the consequences of their choices.
Why did God tell Adam not to eat from the forbidden tree? Before answering that question, what is the name of that tree? The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, right? Interesting. So, God didn’t want Adam to eat from that tree because He didn’t want man’s mind to have a mixture of both good and evil intentions. God wanted man to primarily eat from the tree of life because in that tree, man would receive the nourishment necessary to continue enjoying God’s eternal life. Well, today, the ‘tree of life’ is now God’s Word. Every believer needs to feed on God’s Word daily, although some may not do so. Consider the numerous evil actions occurring in the world today. None of it would have existed if Adam and Eve hadn’t eaten from that tree. But such is the effect of disobedience.
“You’ll never find in sin what you got in sin to find about”.
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Be careful not to succumb to the devil’s plea to feed your curiosity
Walking with the Lord for a while now, there is something I have realised about the devil. He usually likes to suggest enticing things to the minds of believers and hides the ripple effects of such actions on them. Usually, he does it by twisting God’s Word and making sin palatable. But a preacher once said, “You’ll never find in sin what you got in sin to find about”. Read that again if you didn’t get it.
For instance, the devil came to tempt Eve and made her think that if she ate from the forbidden tree, she would not die. However, after eating it with Adam, the Bible states that their eyes were opened, and they experienced shame for the first time, which led them to sew fig leaves to cover themselves (see Genesis 3:7). That is what the devil does. If you are not a deep thinker of the ripple effects of disobeying God, he can deceive you big time, only for you to realise it in the end. Don’t let that be your case.
Walk in obedience to God
In the end, I would say that walking in obedience to God without caring about the aftereffects of it. Sometimes, it will be hard to choose God’s way over juicy offers from the devil, even through unsuspecting people. If you feel down after walking in godly obedience for a long time, I encourage you not to give up. Press on, because there is always joy at the end of the tunnel.
You are a blessing!
