As we live our life in this world, we begin to realize there is something very wrong. There is suffering, death, poverty, slavery, cancer, old age, wars, and the list goes on and on. If there is a God, why does the He allow evil? That is a very good question. Why is there sin in this world?
Maybe you have had a similar question at some point in your life. Maybe you are asking that question today. As we open up God’s Holy word, the Bible, our heavenly Father begins to answer that question. In Genesis 3 the Lord tells us what happened in the story of Adam and Eve.
Adam and Eve were created without sin and were perfect in every way. They were placed in the Garden of Eden and were given directions from God not to do one thing. Just one.
15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” [1] Genesis 2:16-17.
God gave man free will and the ability to choose. Man was not created as robot. Because man was given the ability to choose, he could also choose to disobey. Before man was created God had made the angels. They were also perfect in every way and were also given free will. At some point in time the angel we know as satan fell into sin and rebelled against God. Satan went on to lead a great rebellion in heaven where one third of the angels joined him in the sin of disobedience and rebellion. This rebellion caused God to throw these evil angels out of heaven. This evil angel was satan was now tempting Adam and Eve to sin. Adam and Eve disregarded God’s command not to eat from the tree of good and evil.
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?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “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.’ ” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5
“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.” 6 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. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. [2] Genesis 3:1-7.
God was willing to risk giving free will to angels and humans because he wanted them to love and worship Him out of their own free will.
God knew humans would fall into sin and had a plan to send his Son, Jesus, into the world to rescue humankind. Jesus would pay the price for all the sin of humankind on the cross. Now we are given another choice. We have the choice to accept the free gift of salvation or refuse it. Those who do are headed for heaven, and those who don’t are headed for separation from God forever in a place called hell.
As we live in the sin of this world, it seems that God’s plan is taking to long. In the overall scope of eternity, God is working through His plan at optimum speed. In reality, this is only a moment when compared to eternity.
How are you using the free will God has given you? Do you desire a deeper walk with the Lord? Do you want a life that is more fulfilling? As you read this God is waiting to speak to you through prayer and His word. As we unfold God’s word, He supernaturally reveals to us the deeper meanings of life. God shows ushow we can make a difference in this world. Take a step of faith today and reach out to God in prayer.
God doesn’t just come to people in Bible times, He comes to us today. Listen to the story of Doug Brock and how God intervened in his life. https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-guests/journey-with-doug-brock
[1, 2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 2:15–17, Ge 3:1-7). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.