Did you ever have to make a choice that determined the course of your life – take this young woman or man for your mate; choose to become an accountant or a fireman? Of course you did!
Choice began with your most ancient ancestors, Eve and Adam. The Creator God gave them the prime choice that would determine the course of their lives, out of his love for them. Really, only Adam had the responsibility for the choice because God had given him supervision over the garden. Did Adam know that his choice would determine the pathway of life for all of his offspring?
Except for one symbolic tree, everything in the Garden of Eden was a masterpiece of perfection. Adam had no contrary or opposing impressions to consider; only what God had made. Why then did God plan one contrary tree, called the “tree of good and evil,” in an otherwise perfect environment? Answer: Free will!!!! Without freedom to choose, love becomes soulless, duty bound when no other choice is present. God said, “Don’t touch!” Eve didn’t hear him and yielding to curiosity, took a bite of the fruit. Adam, who heard, now had a choice between supporting his mate or being obedient to God.
The result of that bite of fruit was cataclysmic. Scientists claim that “a big bang” produced the universe. Perhaps!!! However that simple bite of fruit produced a much “bigger bang” opening man to an atmosphere of sin and evil. Ephesians 5:16 says “…the days are evil.” Adam gave permission to the evil one to control the whole world. Romans 5:12-14. They fell!!!
The Lord God provided for Adam and Eve but wouldn’t allow them to remain in the garden. He sent them out into the world they had created through their choice. Again the Lord God provided a choice – two pathways.
1. Pathway of self:
a. Man is his own god – self-centred, self-indulgent, self-satisfying
b. Those who take this path wander through the swamps of their own making – self-directed path.
2. Pathway of Life in Christ:
“Put on the new self…” Colossians 3:1-17
The Tree of Life that thousands of years earlier had provided “Life” to mankind is now waiting for us in heaven so that we can eat of its fruit. Revelation 22:2
By Gordon Kler