FOR A MOMENT, visualize yourself in a place of utopia. It could be on a tropical island, in a mountain retreat, your dream house, or wherever your wildest dreams take you.
Wherever you choose, visualize yourself alone or with your favorite people, but with none of the pressures found in “fitting in” or “looking good”. Since you are in a utopia, you are in charge, and there is absolutely nothing to lose.
With one exception.
It shouldn’t be a big deal since you are in paradise, but you were told there is one thing you may not do.
The instructions are clear and precise; if you do the one thing you may not do, you will die.
What would the ‘one thing that you were told you might not do’ have to be, even with the penalty of death, for you to screw up your paradise?
Clearly it would have to be something that tempts you.
If I was told I could not swim in the ocean, jump out of an airplane, or scale the side of a mountain, I’d have no problems. If I was told I could not get drunk, watch television, or smoke marijuana, I’m going to be safe. However, I can think of several things I would struggle with, even at the risk of dying.
How about you?
If I was tempted by the forbidden fruit, whatever fruit it may be that tempts me; as a disciplined person, I might be able to avoid the death sentence, provided it was only for what I thought was a reasonable amount of time.
For example, if I was told I could not venture beyond the paradise that my eyes could see, the other side is exactly where I would go when the threat of penalty lifted. But, if I was told I could never experience the other side, my paradise would be spoiled the very day I learned about the only restriction I was given.
I would spend some time contemplating my temptation.
Is it possible that I will surely die if I give in to my desire?
And precisely who said I couldn’t go where my heart leads me? Am I not the boss of me?
Is this rule to protect me from some danger? Are there dragons and giants over there?
Or is this rule to keep something valuable from me? Is it possible that I could be happier than I am right where I am?
Does someone think I am not powerful enough to handle whatever consequences I might find over there?
Or am I being dominated?
Have I been wrongly set up to believe I have everything I need for a prosperous life, and yet there is something missing? Something more that I could enjoy?
And wouldn’t it be worth the risk of dying to find out? After all, God made me the way I am, with a curious and adventurous spirit.
After sufficiently analyzing the situation, I would be obsessed with finding a way to feast on my forbidden fruit. I would be prepared to justify my behavior if I got caught, and I would use the tried and true excuse of, “My intentions were good.”
Failing that, I might try, “I knew it was wrong, but I could not help myself. It was your fault. You shouldn’t have told me I couldn’t do that.”
And, because I am so smart, I would not attempt to indulge in my forbidden fruit covertly. I would wait until the gatekeeper was away and I would probably wait for nightfall. This way I could slip in and slip out without knowledge or threat.
Like so many times before, when the forbidden fruit of my desire tempted me, there would come the point of no return.
At some point, the threat of death for indulging would replace the fear of dying if I did not satisfy my desire.
When I cross that line, I’m going to die either way.
And when I take action and indulge in my forbidden fruit, I am shocked and amazed by the sheer pleasure I find, and even more so in the reality that I did not die. I wonder how something so satisfying can be wrong or anything less than pleasant.
To be sure, it is not the forbidden fruit that leads to death.
It is the desire for the forbidden fruit that leads to death.
For when desire is born, whether it is for good or bad, if it is your forbidden fruit you desire, you are caught between freedom and death.
This is often the time when we choose to escape reality where the law of reaping and sowing yields consequences.
It does not matter that we do not like specific laws.
It does not matter that we justify behavior or blame others.
We individually stand responsible for our actions.
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial.—1 Corinthians 10:23
Spend some time considering how your emotions guide your behavior. Try to capture the statements you make to yourself about your rights to do what you feel like doing. Are you following the truth or your opinion about the truth?
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”–Genesis 2:15-17(NIV)
Proverbs14:12, Matthew 7:13-14, Genesis 3:4-7, John 14:21, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22, John 6:63
As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below or go to the group tab above to share your own experience. It only takes a minute of your time, and your words may help others.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.–Jesus(Mark 4:23)
