Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil

n Genesis we find in the first few chapters an account of the two trees in the Garden of God.

One tree's fruit offers life and the other tree's fruit offers the knowledge of good and evil.

I have been asked often several questions about these trees...What were they? Was it an apple? Was the second tree deadly?  Why would God put the second tree there if it was going to cause them to die?  Why would a good God put a bad tree?  etc., etc., etc.,

Well First, I believe God is ALL Good! and everything He makes has the ability to produce good in our lives.  So I don't believe the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was bad, evil, wrong, a mistake or a malicious temp.

I stress with my kids all the time, some things come with age, maturity, responsibility, proven track records., etc.  I personally believe it was the same thing with that tree...I believe there was a restriction on it, for that time, season, duration and beginning...but that God would have eventually after their maturity in their world, responsibilities and learning from Him, would probably have been given the 'ok' to eat...

Much like we understand that sex outside of the marriage union is unacceptable in the eyes of God, and will not be blessed, but instead reap consequences, we also understand that within the confines, safety and determined boundaries of Marriage, it is undefiled.   I also wouldn't give my 14 year old the keys of the car, some things come with age and maturity and have predetermined boundaries to keep everyone safe.

But see that's the key...It's waiting and trusting God that HE KNOWS when things are best to be in our lives...not grasping for it ahead of time.  That can be with anything...

Someone asked me if the tree always represented sin...the answer is NO!  it represents anything that has a marked time, God's time, place, boundary.  Using sex again as an example...sex is not bad - sex was created by God, for pleasure, purpose and promise.  It is to be fully enjoyed within the confines of the boundaries HE has set and there ONLY! Outside of that umbrella, there is a problem, consequence, error and thereby sinful!  Certainly it does represent sin as well, blatant, known sin. 

Even Ministry that we are called to, if we are seeking it instead of GOD we have then pursued grasping a fruit outside the timing and approval of God....that fruit has become an idol and Satan then has open ground and a prepared heart to work with, as we are drawn away by OUR OWN LUST, he then plays with it and us, saying, "has God said you should not do this or that, be this or that, pursue this or that,"  He Puts the very thing that God may eventually want us to partake of in the future, before our face, has us examine it with our intellect, see that 'it is pleasurable to the eye, and good for food to make one wise', and then has us question God's timing, purpose, and goodness.

DON'T fall for it!

This is when we have to seek GOD out, allow him to be on the throne of our heart, Trust that His timing, His Truth, His Will for our lives are abundant towards us and then resist the devil's taunting and repent of our own pride/lust and idolatry of that thing.... over all, this tree is something we willingly partake of anytime we desire something due to our selfish pride, arrogance, and idolatry of self...we want to be on the throne of our own heart and we assume we have the ability, strength, maturity and right to that which we desire.

Satan is not the culprit, he simply gives voice to something we already have in our heart, and gives opportunity for us to justify our own error...

Eve was not the only one who dealt with this folks,  WE ALL DO - No one is exempt from this.  Consider the things you clamor for, the things that disappoint you and cause you to get frustrated or angry when you don't have them - your way - 

Remember our hearts are deceitful - we are very good at deceiving ourselves and justifying with 'good intentions' our idolatrous hearts....

Surrendering it all to Christ again, taking every thought captive to HIM is our only hope of walking in His will! 

Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com