Hello, My Name Is ...Eve?
We are often taught to think of the story of Adam and Eve as a story of origins. It is the story of one significant and disappointing decision made by our very first ancestors long, long, long, long ago. A decision from which all human folly and suffering flows. (And we women can’t help but share some healthy skepticism over whether Eve really WAS the first one to eat the forbidden fruit…I mean, really?).
But the story of Adam and Eve is so much more than a story about events that happened at the beginning of time. In fact, it’s a story of us.
I’m going to throw it out there-- Adam and Eve kind of get an unfairly bad rap. The first humans ever to live and they had to go and screw up big time for everyone else. Their life was paradise in God’s garden. He was in control. He cared for them. All they had to do was obey. To place themselves under God’s care and trust. And they wanted for nothing.
Sweet deal right? But they blew it. They broke the ONE RULE God gave them. And by doing so, they ruined it for ALL OF HUMANITY. I mean…come ON! Why are we all paying the price for Adam and Eve’s actions? If it had been us, we would have been smarter, right? We wouldn’t have messed it up.
Nope.
We messed up too. And, actually, we do it on a daily basis.
Adam and Eve isn’t just a story about the first humans. It’s a story about today. Right now. It’s a story about us. Every day, we jump (or stumble, or are pulled kicking and screaming, as some cases may be) out of bed and we face a brand new opportunity to make the Right Choice. The choice Adam and Eve failed to make on that fateful day at the beginning of time. We are given the opportunity to submit to God’s will. To place our trust and our care in Him and reap the blessings that are waiting for us. And every day we struggle to relinquish control. We question. We ignore. We are entirely self-absorbed. We unintentionally drive ourselves out of his paradise. We put up a barrier.
We have to make Adam and Eve-type choices on a daily basis. Perhaps the choices we face aren’t as harrowing or as catastrophic (disobey and bring suffering upon all of mankind!!). And it’s just possible that we might never come across a talking snake. But our choices have the same general repercussions. When we choose ourselves over God (as we inevitably do), when we challenge Him and question Him, we drive a wedge between ourselves and God. And this wedge becomes the source of unhappiness and suffering.
We falter all the time. Even when we have the best intentions. For example, how many times have you given up something for Lent only to cave once or twice? If we can’t give up coffee for 40 measly days without giving into temptation, how the heck were we not going to avoid eating from the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil for ALL OF ETERNITY? That was a battle we were never going to win.
So, Adam and Eve are you and me. But why? Why are we like this? Why do we fail time and time again? Because we have the CHOICE to fail. God did not create clones or minions. It’s kind of like what your mom taught you in preschool—the best kind of friend to have is one who wants to be YOUR friend. God wants us to love him. But he doesn’t force us (what kind of relationship would THAT be). He gives us the choice. It’s a beautiful thing. We get to choose Him. He always wants to have a relationship with us. Always. Even after we fail time and time again. And when we choose him back, it means that much more.
But the story of Adam and Eve is so much more than a story about events that happened at the beginning of time. In fact, it’s a story of us.
I’m going to throw it out there-- Adam and Eve kind of get an unfairly bad rap. The first humans ever to live and they had to go and screw up big time for everyone else. Their life was paradise in God’s garden. He was in control. He cared for them. All they had to do was obey. To place themselves under God’s care and trust. And they wanted for nothing.
Sweet deal right? But they blew it. They broke the ONE RULE God gave them. And by doing so, they ruined it for ALL OF HUMANITY. I mean…come ON! Why are we all paying the price for Adam and Eve’s actions? If it had been us, we would have been smarter, right? We wouldn’t have messed it up.
Nope.
We messed up too. And, actually, we do it on a daily basis.
Adam and Eve isn’t just a story about the first humans. It’s a story about today. Right now. It’s a story about us. Every day, we jump (or stumble, or are pulled kicking and screaming, as some cases may be) out of bed and we face a brand new opportunity to make the Right Choice. The choice Adam and Eve failed to make on that fateful day at the beginning of time. We are given the opportunity to submit to God’s will. To place our trust and our care in Him and reap the blessings that are waiting for us. And every day we struggle to relinquish control. We question. We ignore. We are entirely self-absorbed. We unintentionally drive ourselves out of his paradise. We put up a barrier.
We have to make Adam and Eve-type choices on a daily basis. Perhaps the choices we face aren’t as harrowing or as catastrophic (disobey and bring suffering upon all of mankind!!). And it’s just possible that we might never come across a talking snake. But our choices have the same general repercussions. When we choose ourselves over God (as we inevitably do), when we challenge Him and question Him, we drive a wedge between ourselves and God. And this wedge becomes the source of unhappiness and suffering.
We falter all the time. Even when we have the best intentions. For example, how many times have you given up something for Lent only to cave once or twice? If we can’t give up coffee for 40 measly days without giving into temptation, how the heck were we not going to avoid eating from the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil for ALL OF ETERNITY? That was a battle we were never going to win.
So, Adam and Eve are you and me. But why? Why are we like this? Why do we fail time and time again? Because we have the CHOICE to fail. God did not create clones or minions. It’s kind of like what your mom taught you in preschool—the best kind of friend to have is one who wants to be YOUR friend. God wants us to love him. But he doesn’t force us (what kind of relationship would THAT be). He gives us the choice. It’s a beautiful thing. We get to choose Him. He always wants to have a relationship with us. Always. Even after we fail time and time again. And when we choose him back, it means that much more.
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