An open letter to young adults who grew up in church
Photo Courtesy: Priscilla Du Preeze (Unsplash.com)
Eden. A garden where the first humans occupied, ruled and reigned. A place that was optimal for growth and spiritual communion with God. Tucked between four rivers, this place had every tree, every plant and every bit of food the the first couple needed. Adam and Eve, the world's first humans were in the best situation a human could be in. Communing with God in the cool of the day, tending the garden and completely unaware of the shame and guilt that comes with sin.
Yet, there was evil afoot. A serpent with a need to deceive, and a tree in which they could not partake from. The temptation proved to be too great for humanity; resulting in Eve being deceived by the serpent, and Adam participating in the deception. Now naked and full of guilt, they hid from the presence of God.
If you have been in the Christian circle for any amount of time, you probably have been angry with these two for some time. I mean, how could people who live in paradise do the one thing that would get them kicked out? Yet, I've found that Christians who grew up in the church face this same issue. A comfortability and lack of awe that comes with growing up in a Christian household. In fact, some of the most frequently tempted people that I know are lifetime Christians; even with things that they have not indulged in with their past.
What is the Adam problem? It's the wonder of if the garden is actually all you need.
What is the Adam problem? It's the wonder of if the garden is actually all you need. The thought that maybe, just maybe, the world is not as bad as what the Bible describes it as. In fact, it may even have some things you need or can enjoy. That maybe your spiritual death that God promised will be delayed enough to repent before the finality. One of Eve's sin was thinking that the serpent was right; that perhaps God was holding out on them.
It can be especially hard when you see the unrighteous prevail. We are surrounded by unrighteousness all the time and unrighteousness in high places. Politicians suffer scandal after scandal yet drive home in their nice cars to their nice mansions. Perverse singers openly mock God yet are showered by fandoms' "love", and given immense opportunities. Yet, where are. the righteous? It seems that they are sentenced to a life of mundanity.
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Things to remember if you are tempted by things outside of the garden.
1.) It is more beneficial with God than without God
In Psalms 103:2 David writes, "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits."Most of the time, when one chooses things outside of the garden, it's done in haste. An antidote to hasty disobedience is to remember the benefits that come with serving God.
2.) The enemy is a hard taskmaster
Following after the ways of the world will ultimately lead to destruction. Sin never stays in the same place it was meant to be in. It spreads. Matthew 11:28-30 reads, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
If the yoke of Christ is easy and the burden is light, adversely the yoke of the enemy is the opposite. Following the paths that lead outside the garden lead to hardship.
3.) There is reward to those that endure
The Bible tells us that for those who endure, there is the reward for life at the end. Yes, temptation can be strong but, it does not compare to joy that awaits to those who endure. The things outside of the garden are fleeting as they are not rooted in eternity. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him," James 1:12.
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