FREEDOM The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Last week, we learned the importance of seeing ourselves the way God sees us and trusting Him to guide us, strengthen our faith, and build our character. This week, we will begin our deep dive into true freedom in Christ as we explore the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (TKGE) and the perversion of Truth.

In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam that he may eat of every tree in the Garden of Eden with the exception of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam had a choice. Everyday we are given a similar choice – to choose between the Tree of Life representing a loving, forgiving God, freedom, grace, and eternal life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil representing a judgmental God, bondage, the Law, and death.

We know what happens in Adam’s story. Satan perverted the truth, Adam and Eve sinned – choosing the TKGE - and we were all separated from God until He made a way to restore our relationship with Him. We find the way of restoration in Colossians 1:19-21, “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.” The start of the restoration of our relationship with God and walking in freedom is accepting we are sinners and understanding Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin by shedding His blood and dying on a cross. Believing is the first step toward freedom.

Back to Adam and Eve, who hide from God after their sin. God did not turn His back on them but, in His great love, sought them out. He had warned them eating from the TKGE would lead to separation and death. God was not waiting for them to fail so He could judge them – He loved them as He loves us, even when we have sinned and are hiding. God is love and when we see His true heart for us, we will run to Him instead of hiding when we sin. May we remember God is love and recognize His heart for us as we run to Him for the genuine freedom only He can provide.

It’s not too late to join us in our journey. Pick up your copies of A Year to a Better You, the year-long devotional, and the companion S.O.A.P. Journal and come along with us as we discover our best selves.