Our original purpose

Genesis 3:1-4 (NLT)
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

This story recounts the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. The temptation offered by the serpent was “AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.” Satan understood this temptation well for he himself had fallen to it and so had the angels who fell supporting Satan. Their desire was to be like God and their desire cost them the rewards of heaven.

Let’s take a moment to reflect upon our original purpose. We were created in the image of God, to be with God, to have a relationship and fellowship with God. Our lives were to be unobstructed by the view of sin and our wisdom was to be directed by God. Our lives would have been free from pain and misery. Our burdens would have been simple. God our creator was ready to watch over us and take care of all our needs. Yet man decided he wanted to be like God. Man without thought took on the responsibility of trying to be God without having the power to be God. Man was incapable of dealing with sin, afflictions, suffering, pain and burden, but his choice cost him exactly that. Even now we try to handle problems our own way and seek out our own solutions without God’s help. Overpowered by the burdens of the world we turn to things other than God hoping they will give us support or relief from our suffering. Yet it is all in vain unless we humble ourselves before God, admit our sin, admit our flaws, and seek His wisdom. God still cares about us and wants us with Him in heaven, but God has also given us the freedom to choose because we wanted that choice. And yet that choice cost us dearly and cost Christ even much more. Pray you will turn over the areas of your life where you are trying to act as God. Maybe you are trying to control others or situations. Maybe you are taking on more than you can handle thinking you can do it all. Jesus told us his yoke was easy and his burden was light. Let’s fully turn our lives over to Jesus and live as close to God as He intended.