Free Buffet!

Since we started from ‘the beginning” let’s really look at what was provided for us. People had the perfect life. They could hang out in a beautiful garden all day and never had to sow, weed or water. Nice! They never had to do work of any kind. They had amazing, uninterrupted communication with God and between themselves. They didn’t have to worry about wild animals attacking them or each other. They had a full-on free buffet of all the land had to offer (except for one tree), and what’s more they could walk around naked and not be ashamed! Like I’d ever do that in a public garden. It truly was paradise.

The thing is, temptation was also real.
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food, and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate it."
God provided everything one could possibly want or need to live a very satisfying, conflict free, carefree life with Him and yet, Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation to have more. That is what caused humanity trouble from the beginning and that is still what causes trouble today...not being satisfied with what we have even when we have more than enough. When we give into the temptation to acquire or take more than we need, we are actually making a statement. We are saying, “I deserve more and God hasn’t given me enough. I know what I want and need better than God does.” That’s a pretty cocky statement.

Living God’s best in every area of our life means being in relationship with Him. Relationship with God means remembering our position before the One who created us. We are not equals. He is the Creator and we are the created. He gives us everything we need to live comfortably and healthily but we need to trust Him enough to believe it and submit to His way of doing things in our lives. Food is not the issue. Control is! When we try to control and manage our eating, our meal plans, our exercise routines, our own way leaving God out of the equation, we will inevitably succumb to temptation and fail, resulting in shame and blame. Sometimes we even take others down with us by including them in our folly to make ourselves feel better, or to have someone else to point to in excusing our behavior. Allowing God to control us and help us with our eating is the only way of succeeding. Does that take away temptation? Certainly not! But the Bible says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will provide a way out so you can endure it.” I Corinthians 10:12-13

I don’t know what that way of escape will be for you when you’re considering a doughnut and you’re feeling the need to devour the whole bakery, but I know what is it for me at this moment. The thought of being naked physically, mentally and spiritually before God and not being ashamed. I want to return to some of that paradise!