The following garden conversation was a bad start. But you can have a new start!
Three kinds of voices–God’s, the devil’s, and human voices– in a garden conversation changed humanity forever. God told Adam he could eat the fruit of every tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. God warned Adam that he would die if he ate from that tree.
Later the devil (disguised as a serpent) asked Eve: “Is it true that God said not to eat from any tree in the garden?”
Eve told the devil that they could eat from all the trees except one, and if they touched it or ate from it, they would die. The devil told Eve that it wasn’t true that they would die. He accused God of having a selfish motive for not wanting Adam and her to eat from that tree.
Eve saw that the fruit from that tree was desirable and she ate it. Later she gave some of its fruit to Adam, and he ate it. Suddenly they realized that they were nude, covered themselves with fig leaves, and hid behind some trees.
Then God asked Adam: “Where are you?”
Adam answered: “I heard you walking in the garden and was afraid because I was nude. That’s why I hid.”
God responded: “And who told you that you are nude? Have you eaten from the tree I told you not to?”
Adam answered by blaming Eve for giving him the fruit. Then God asked Eve: “What have you done?” And Eve blamed the devil.
Now look around in your own heart and look at the evil in the world. Look at the harm that listening to the voice of the devil and of human desires has caused!
Now three voices are speaking in your mind and heart: your own voice, the voice of the devil, and God’s voice. Who are you listening to?
Don’t just memorize the Bible. Arise in the Spirit and “heartorize” it! Ponder it and let God write it on your heart.
If you have two hours a week to spend driving to church, attending the service, and driving home, perhaps those two hours would have more impact on your life if you spent them reading the Bible with an open, humble heart and letting the Holy Spirit speak directly to you as you read. Try it and see.
Alignment with God is not about perfection, but direction. Are you listening to His inner voice and allowing His Spirit to lead you from within? Are you getting closer to Christ and surrendering your will to Him more and more each day? Or are you drifting further away from Him?
