Eve had a choice in the Garden of Eden. She knew the commandment God gave, but chose to be disobedient and enticed her husband to do the same. They both had a choice – obey or disobey – and both choices have consequences. Do right and enjoy spiritual blessings. Do wrong and pay the price for sin.
“And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”
“Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:23-24)
Nadab and Abihu had a choice, but they decided “strange fire” would be better and disobeyed God. Their disobedience cost them their lives.
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1-2)
Moses had a choice to either be called Pharaoh’s daughter’s son or suffer affliction with the people of God.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:24-27)
There is a remedy for sin and He died on the cross for that sin. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice. Will we take advantage of what Jesus offers?
“A preacher and a soap maker were walking together. The soap maker said, “What good is religion? Look at all the misery in the world! Still there, even after years – thousands of years of teaching about goodness and truth and peace; still there after all the prayers and sermons and teachings; if religion is supposed to be good and true, how can this be?”
The preacher said nothing, deep in thought. They continued walking until the preacher noticed children playing. Then the preacher said, “Look at those children. You say that soap makes children clean, but see the dirt on those children? Of what good is soap? With all of the soap in the world, over all of these years, the children are filthy. I wonder how effective soap is.”
The soap maker was quick to protest: “But preacher, soap cannot do any good unless it is used often.”
“Exactly” replied the preacher.” ~ Anonymous
“They that fear the Lord will not disobey His Word; and they that love Him will keep His ways.” (Ecclesiastes 2:15)
“. . . Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) (This verse was Jesus’ mission) E. L.
Eileen Light