When I was growing up, there were some expressions that adults would tell their children, like “Àn apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now that I am closing in on 70 years of age, it seems that I am seeing more doctors than apples. I used to make pancakes filled with apples, but have not done that for quite a while.
Karen and I have been reading the early chapters of Genesis this month, including the account of God’s instructions to Adam in Genesis 2:16-17:
“From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”
In the following chapter, we read that the serpent “was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Gen. 3:1a). The devil, disguised as a serpent questioned Eve:
“Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (Gen. 3:1b).
The woman answered:
“From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’” (Gen. 3:2-3).
In this exchange, we see that the devil twisted what God had said, asking Eve if God had said to not eat from any tree of the garden, rather than being able to eat from every tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve responded by misquoting what God said, adding the restriction of “not touch it” in reference to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
If you watch films or television shows that portray trials in courtrooms, you are familiar with the oath that witnesses are asked to declare: “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” How much heartache would be avoided if everyone lived in accordance with that oath? A whole lot!
On Thursday, I celebrated the 52nd anniversary of my new life in Christ. I am grateful for the men and women who had a vision to declare the gospel of Christ at Expo 67 – in the “Sermons from Science” pavilion. When the world’s fair ended, some pavilions remained for a few years, including the Christian pavilion. Bible courses were offered and I began following one in 1969.
More than three years later, I came to the place where a question was asked as to whether I had asked God’s forgiveness for my sins and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. I knew that I would not return the lesson until I had done so. I thank the Lord for leading people to serve in the pavilion and in the follow-up ministry.
In the early days of this year, you may have failed to keep one or more resolutions that you made, but you can be sure that God keeps His promises. He will never let you down!
Steve