(Unsolicited) advice from the first mother: I am Eve

“…in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…” Gen. 2:9

There is some evil God does not want us to know or experience, so when God tells you not to do something, DON’T DO IT. There is no advantage in disobeying him. I learned this lesson the hard way.

When most people hear my story, the first thing they say (or think) is “how could she?” I don’t blame them. Afterall, I had one clear, unambiguous instruction from an all-knowing and loving God and I messed that up. How? Well, my fall happened in three steps that you might recognize in your life.

First, my senses were delighted. I had circled that tree many times before that fateful day. I had admired its beautiful fruit, wondered how it felt and tasted. Its color, shape, and size were inviting and I gazed at it more times and longer than I should have.  I’m sure the serpent had seen me circling the tree and he waited until my desire matured.

Second, I rationalized. I did what most of us do when we decide to disobey God. I rationalized my disobedience. The serpent had told me the fruit would make me wiser and who doesn’t want to be smarter? (Side note: Don’t talk to that inveterate liar.) You know how we tend to imbue the things we desire with all sorts of good qualities they may not possess? I did that. The fruit looked good so I assumed it was good.

I also began to ask questions that muddied God’s clear instruction. Did he really mean what we thought he said? God had given us so many good things so why would he deprive us of this beautiful fruit? Having knowledge is a good thing, isn’t it? I exalted my limited reasoning above the word of an all-knowing God. Yes, stupid is the word.

Third, I acted on my rationalizations and disobeyed God. I picked the forbidden fruit and ate it. I wish I could tell you it tasted as good as it looked and that it was worth it. I can’t. I gave it to my husband perhaps to assuage my guilt and garnish the unpalatable idea that what I had done was wrong. But I knew better. Even if a million people had done it, the act was still wrong because God said so. God determines what is right or wrong, and there’s always a price to pay for disobedience. The consequences of mine live on . . .

So here it is in a nutshell. You are not smarter than God and you will never be. No amount of reasoning can cancel the clear commands of God. Rebellion/disobedience is always a foolish choice. Our sins are not our own; they affect others in one way or another. No matter how beautiful, shiny, or inviting the fruit (man, woman, job, house, opportunity, name it), if God tells you to have nothing to do with it, leave it alone.

God is for you not against you.