The Worst Day Ever

Every bad day in the history of the world can be traced back to one dreadful moment.

Every disease, relational wound, and act of violence is rooted there.

Every self-hating lie.

And every false concept about who God is.

It all started in a garden.  You can read about the moment that changed everything in Genesis chapter three verse six.   Satan knew how to play this one out. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.”  His method was to cause Eve to question God’s goodness.  “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

“Original Sin”  or “The Fall Of Man”  are a couple of titles for, “The Worst Day Ever.”  Seriously…this was a bad moment for our planet and all who live upon it. 

The rules of the game changed the very moment Adam and Eve choose to believe the serpents lie and do the exact thing their loving God warned them not to do.

I’m a parent and I get it.  I warn my kids constantly to stay away from danger.  Most of the time they listen, but sometimes they choose to ignore my warning which results in consequences.  Consequences are hard.  Both for them and for me.  I love my kids and I hate to see them suffering. 

If I were an evil parent this might not be the case.  As an evil parent I’d have no compassion and laugh when my kids were hurting.  An evil parent would act this way…but not a good one. 

When Satan convinced Eve to try the forbidden fruit He told her,  “….. God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.  The reality is that a blinder came over her and the rest of humanities eyes from then on.  Before that moment Eve truly knew what “good” was.   Eve enjoyed relationship with God, eyes wide open.  She could see Him and know Him fully. 

After she took and ate the forbidden fruit she lost the ability to clearly distinguish evil from good.  And ever since that day Satan has continued to plant seeds of doubt about God’s goodness in the hearts and minds of all. 

I would be crushed if my kids doubted my love, or felt that I was punishing, mean, or mocking them.  Why is it that sometimes we view God this way?  I’m certain that it breaks His heart when we dwell on false beliefs about his character and goodness.

In week 11 of the 7Th year Alicia  encouraged us set a timer. When the timer goes off we are to ask ourselves what we think about God in that moment.  I’ve been thinking about this question at random times, and finding that I really do love Him for a wide range of reasons.  The more amazing thing to me is that He never needs to set a timer as a reminder to have a tought about me.  I’m always on His mind, right at the front…with thoughts of love for me that are too numerous to count.

What happened in the garden opened the door to every evil thought about God’s character.  He then, gave His only Son so that we could be forever free from every evil lie, snare, trap, and consequence of evil.   Satan seeks daily to put blinders on our eyes and accuse God of being the bad guy.  Let me assure you…nothing is farther from the truth. 

“What began in a garden will end in a garden one day.   What began on a tree, ended on a tree, because He came for you and me, to set all His Children free.” ( from: It’s a Garden by Jake Hamilton, Freedom Calling)

God is the good guy…and He shall reign forever and ever.  The giants we have faced will seem small on the Day when Jesus comes and brings His justice on earth.  In the end, God wins.  Hallelujah!