Day 1 Knowing good and evil
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which God planted in the Garden of Eden has produced a bumper crop in these last days. God put it there to provide Adam and Eve the opportunity to serve God willingly by their own free will. They would be able to demonstrate this by choosing to obey God who told Adam they could eat of any tree in the garden but this one. They disobeyed God.
Before their disobedience, Adam and Eve were sinless, they lived in a flawless environment, they walked and talked with God in the cool of the day, and they still chose to disobey God. They were innocent, but became deceived. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil began producing and has continued to produce down through the centuries until today, the fruit of it is seen everywhere.
At one time, evil was held in check and was not openly flaunted like it is today. Children, especially, were protected from the knowledge of evil. Childhood was a carefree time when parents were trusted to provide for and protect their children. Children learned about the "birds and the bees" when entering adolescence. Today nothing is hidden. Children lose their innocence much too soon. The TV flaunts private matters, even in advertising. What used to bring embarrassment in mixed company is brazenly spoken about or openly shown. What appears to be a clean and moral drama can all of a sudden dump some awful word, thought or action into your living room. The knowledge of evil is open and available to all.
The knowledge of good has also exploded. The mystery of the book of Revelation has been unlocked in our day. There are translations of the Bible to help anyone to somewhat understand it. There are more Christian seminars, conferences and gatherings available than one could possibly attend. There are Christian radio, TV, movies, videos, tapes and magazines wherever you go. There are churches accessible to anyone who wants to attend. The knowledge of good, like the knowledge of evil, is open and available to all.
It is up to man to choose between good and evil. Laws are no longer guarding what is good and moral according to God's standards. Abortion is legal, gambling is legal, alcohol is legal. Today if a person wants to choose evil, it may very well be accepted by society.
Consider this:
Unlike Adam and Eve's sinlessness before the fall, unlike their perfect environment, unlike God coming down to walk and talk with them, man has a sinful nature, lives in a corrupt environment and has to seek God to have relationship with Him. Yet, man has the same opportunity to choose good and obey God as they had. He can partake of the fruit of good in the face of evil. By his own free will he can choose to obey God, to repent and receive forgiveness for his sins, to live in an environment of God's peace and to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord of creation.
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)
"This day I call heaven and 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..." (Deuteronomy 30:19)
