Did God Really Say That?
19 March, 2016
"What have you done?" God asked Adam and Eve after they ate the forbidden fruit. What. Have. You. Done.
There was one rule instructed to Adam and Eve. "You may eat of any fruit in the garden. Have at it! Just please, please don't eat from that apple tree in the middle. Trust me."
How many times have I heard God speak to me like that? Many.
Dare I admit, sometimes I don't listen to His voice. Sometimes, I listen to the other.
"Did God really say you can't eat of this tree in the garden? He just doesn't want you to have all the power He has! Go on, try it. One bite. That's it..." We're all familiar with the serpent.
"Hm. Maybe he's right! Maybe God actually doesn't know any better? Maybe I should date this man who doesn't love Jesus? I mean, what's the problem? Did God really say I can't go have a couple drinks with this man who hasn't stepped foot in a church in years? Really, what can it hurt?"
No. No, no, no.
God knows our best. He wants our best. He wants to say "well done, my good and faithful servant. My dear daughter!" I don't want to hear Him say, "Paige, what have you done? I had a lovely life planned out for you. Every need would have been met. But you caved, bit the apple, and ignored my guidance. Oh well...?"
Life is too short to play God. I don't want to discover His power once it's too late. I want to embrace it now and follow His instructions.
Think of a horse. As it's young, it needs to be trained. It needs a saddle and a bit and instruction. With proper training, it could go on to winning the Kentucky Derby, a feat an untrained horse could never achieve.
Although training is monotonous and cumbersome, Jesus is the best Trainer in the land. If we shake off the saddle and bit and decide to run free, we'll have the time of our lives. Then a day will go by. Two days. Ten years. And we'll wish so badly we could go back in time and keep that bit in our mouths. It's no fun watching someone else live out the life God has for them while we're knee-deep in a mess of sin we knew God never wanted us in.
That's not to say God can't clean messes; He specializes in life overhauls. But wouldn't we rather do things right the first time? Don't we want to listen to God's voice instead of the liar of all liars?
We were made for something really special. God can use us in ways we could never fathom if we just give Him the chance. We can't underestimate the consequences that come from saying 'yes' or 'no' in life.
Don't say yes to the wrong voice. Say yes to God every time and major self-inflicted obstacles will be avoided. It's inevitable. Adam and Eve made the mistake at the beginning of time, and no one likes a rerun. If they could do life over, we can be sure Adam and Eve wouldn't step foot within a mile of that tree.
Don't fall, honey. Don't fall.
