Innocent

When I was a little younger, I used to get involved in theological discussions just for the delight of the mental stimulation. I guess if that’s the worst of the "wild oats" I sowed, that’s probably not too bad, but, frankly, what a waste of time! I attempt to avoid such useless nonsense these days, but sometimes doctrinal issues really do matter, when believing a lie is having an impact on our lives.

Such is the case here. We’ve got this theory that Adam and Eve lived in a paradise, and walked in unbroken fellowship with God, unmarred by sin, and oh, if only Eve wouldn’t have ruined it all! Now we haven’t got a chance of having that sort of intimacy with God, because of sin, and death, and all the rest of this awful stuff that has transpired.

So … is it the truth? Or is it a fairy tale? Let’s consider the facts. God created Adam, and gave him the law regarding the tree. (Well, it was law—after all, there is no sin without law, is there?) Immediately (as recorded in Genesis) thereafter, Eve came on the scene. Immediately (as recorded in Genesis) thereafter, the snake shows up and has his discussion with Eve, while Adam stood passively by. THE ONLY statement about Adam and Eve "pre-sin" recorded in scripture is that they were naked and unashamed. Nothing about unbroken fellowship with God. Nothing about a paradise. Nothing about beautiful intimacy with God. It is not recorded that God sought out their company until after the snake had been in for his chat.

But what does it matter?

For a moment, let’s suppose that Adam and Eve were a whopping five minutes old (or, rather, that Eve was) when the incident at the tree took place. Let’s suppose she didn’t know God at all. (Certainly the snake wouldn’t have been able to deceive her about God had she known Him well.) My contention is that Eve was not only innocent, but that she was ignorant, as well. And my question is, "Is that a state of which we should be envious?" Consider what is said of the angels: they don’t know God’s mercy or grace. Would you really want to be ignorant of that? Do you really believe that your relationship with God would be better if you were perfect, and in your state of perfection, unable to know and experience God’s mercy?

See, I’m of the opinion that we ourselves are missing out on something because we think we’re missing out on something. We resent Adam and Eve a little, because they "ruined things for us.’ We believe we’re living under a curse; we believe the earth is cursed; we believe that death and Satan rule the world.

But death has been defeated, and the works of the evil one have been destroyed. Since Noah, the earth is no longer cursed. God Himself wants intimacy with you, and it is possible.

Do you believe it?

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