www.daughtersofpromise.orgTRADING HIM IN
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise… Genesis 3:6
If Eve had regarded the tree as God described it, there would have been no sin. He clearly communicated that consummation of the fruit of the tree meant death. Wouldn’t that make the tree undesirable? Once Satan appeared to reframe the story, the tree took on a different appearance. It was transformed to ‘a tree that was good for food, a delight to her eyes, and the path to wisdom.’ Oh, how far her mind traveled!
Could a piece of fruit make her wise like God? When I consider her assumption, it was ludicrous. She kept company with Wisdom, knew Wisdom, and had only to ask His advice on any matter and He would speak to her. She was going to trade Him for a piece of fruit.
I am wise only if I bow to God’s superior understanding. I could spend my youth earning two earned doctorates and be a fool. I could be the cleverest wordsmith and still be a fool I could have an entrepreneurial gift to make myself a fortune but still be a fool. I could be an expert in my field. People could pay to hear me speak. They could call me ‘brilliant’ and I might begin to believe them while the opinion of the One who matters is not in my radar. I’ve chosen to believe that it’s possible to be filled with knowledge without having a covenant relationship with my Creator.
To put it in simple terms, Eve had God but, at that moment, didn’t value him. She opted to trade him for the temporary pleasure of eating something that looked delicious. That is the best definition of sin and I didn’t think of it, believe me Paul is the one that put it like this in Romans 1:22-23 “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for __________________________."
I know all too well from 59 years of experience.I see something I want. Instead of walking away and keeping the beauty of Jesus in front of my face, I pick the fruit. I turn it over and over in my hands. I imagine its taste. Then turn my back to the gaze of Christ and consume it.
What is His love like? In spite of how many times I do it, when I come running back and tearfully admit I blew it, He forgives and forgives and forgives and forgives.
You made a new covenant with Your death for my sin. I’ll never get over it. Amen.
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
Originally published Monday, 10 February 2020.
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