Growing up I was always looking for good trees. Trees served two purposes for me. They were either good for climbing or good for a rope swing. Sometimes my friends and I got lucky and found a tree that was good for both. The problem came when that tree was on someone else’s property. We were not going to let boundaries and rules stand in the way of a good climb or thrilling swing.
One of these good climbing trees happened to be in the pasture of a farmer near our house. My friend and I ignored the boundary of the fence and wandered into the pasture. We loved hanging out in that tree. One day we were hanging out in the tree when the farmer spotted us and started running at us and yelling. We quickly jumped out of the tree and started to run. We ran through the woods, climbing up and down the creek banks, and crossing logs to make sure he could not follow us to our homes. The problem was when I jumped out the tree I landed on a tree root breaking a bone on the top of my foot. (Sorry mom. I know some of this might be news to you.) You see, there was a fence for a reason. It was there to keep the horse in and me out. That boundary, if respected, would have kept me safe.
When God created the Garden of Eden he placed two trees in the middle of the garden and he placed a boundary around one of them. There was the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam to work and eat from the garden but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. After Eve was brought to Adam we see that Adam had changed God’s rules already. We see the start of legalism in the third chapter of the Bible. Eve tells the serpent “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3:2-3) God never mentioned touching the tree. Eve never mentions which of the trees in the middle of the garden. Had Adam told her not to eat from or touch either tree? Was he setting a different boundary to make sure she did not mess things up? We can only speculate, but we do see that something had been lost in communication.
We do know that God gave man a choice. You have a choice to follow the rules, knowledge of good and evil or you can have life. Adam and Eve chose the rules. Choosing the law, the rules, always leads to death (Roman 7:9).
Deuteronomy 30:19 says “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”
What would have happened if Adam and Eve would have chosen life? There was nothing stopping them from eating from the tree of life. They could have eaten from that tree and experienced true life. Instead, they chose the rules, morality, the law and ultimately death. They chose to do things on their own.
What would happen if you chose life instead of the rules? There is another tree in the Bible. This tree was the sign of death but Jesus used it to bring life. He died on that tree so we can be set free from the law. He not only wants to give us life but abundant life. The only thing we have to do is choose the life that he offered us on that tree. The choice is still there and it is still yours. You can continue trying to do things on your own or you can choose the life God is offering you through Jesus.
Today, I set before you three choices. You can choose to ignore the boundaries and the rules and try to figure life out on your own. Second, you can choose to be bound by the rules and law. I hope you will choose the last option. I hope you will choose the abundant life that God offers through grace. If you want to know more about this abundant life click Here to contact me.
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