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?”
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “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.’”
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “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.”
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT)
With increased knowledge comes the realization we are not all that we think we are. Think environment… think wealth… think fame… think war…
Think sin…
In a world so strongly encouraging the pursuit of happiness and perfection, we as people come to realize we aren’t as perfect as we’d like to think we are. We come to realize we may never have the mansion overlooking the mountains descending into the ocean. We may never have the fancy cars and the parties with the social elite.
For some of us, this may be a painful realization. It may make us feel trapped, vulnerable… naked.
However, there are far greater riches in store for us when we trust in God. When we surrender our weakness, our faults… our sin… to Jesus Christ and allow him into our lives, we have a far greater reward.
God will provide for our every need. He will carry us through this life, and life evermore.