RECAP: So far, the story in the Bible has began with:
God creating the earth
God creating mankind
Mankind being created in Gods image
Mankind being designed to have a relationship with God
Mankind is placed inside a perfect garden
If you don't know how long the Bible actually is, you might be tempted to think that this is where the story could end.
SERIOUSLY!
WOULD THIS NOT BE THE PERFECT PLACE TO WRITE THE WORDS,
"AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER."
Our story could be locked in. All the marvellous details about relationship and living in a perfect garden could be locked in forever. However, if you've ever seen a Bible, you know that's not what happens. Why? Because one detail enters into the narrative that will change everything.
ONE. STUPID. TREE.
At this point in the story we are introduced to The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. A tree in the garden that the first two humans were told never to eat from.
For a long time this tree confused me. Why put this tree in the garden? Why give mankind the opportunity to blow this whole thing up!?
But the truth is, the tree had to be there. The tree had to be there because the story in the Bible reveals that God desires genuine love & relationship with His creation. He wanted sincerity in relationship, not a bunch of robots. And what do we know about sincere love?
IT REQUIRES A CHOICE!
Sincere love requires a choice. That's it. It's not based off emotions, its not based off feelings. At the end of the day, IT. IS. A. CHOICE. God knew this. Of course He did. The Bible says that, "God is love" (1 John 4:8).