21st Century Adam
God created the Garden of Eden for Adam. There were many trees bearing different fruit all pleasing to the eye. God said to Adam, “You are my friend, you may eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge for you will die.” Adam, who loved God, was happy to obey this command from his Father.
One day he happened upon a glance of the tree of knowledge. He realized it was much more pleasing to the eye than the other trees. He struggled to abstain from this tree. His mind would always imagine its taste as he ate the fruit from other trees. He was so burdened by this tree that he decided to draw a line in the ground- a circle to envelope the tree of knowledge as well as other trees to obscure its sight. Peace.
Some time later, Adam happened upon a tree just inside the circle. It was a nice tree and one, which he had not tasted in a while. He struggled to abstain from this tree for it was inside the circle and this circle was for God. So Adam drew a larger circle- one that could obscure the view of the smaller circle. Certainly, I will avoid disobeying God.
Time passed and the circles became larger, when finally Adam ate from only one tree: suffering by his situation but happy of the certainty of his obedience.
God came to visit him and Adam was very happy! “My Father! See how I have obeyed your commands.”
“Adam, avoiding disobedience does not mean obedience. You measured your goodness by what you excluded not by who you included”
21st Century Abraham
God told Abraham: “Leave your Country, your family, and your father’s home for land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.” Excited about all the future blessings from God, Abraham left his home and charged for new land and a new hope.
Abraham arrived and God blessed him as was promised. Though grateful by all God had done, Abraham still had one desire above all other things: a son.
God came to Abraham in a vision: “Don’t be afraid Abraham, I am your shield. Your reward will be grand!” Abraham, trying not to seem ungrateful, said,” God, Master, your gifts are grand and I am lucky to have received them. My desire is only for you and your will. Grant me a son so that by him and his children Your will can be spread. Whenever or if ever you grant this to me, I surrender to you.”
A long time had passed and Abraham struggled to believe in the God he once knew. He ricocheted between surrender to God’s will and desire for a son. His idea of what was “good” left him with no choice: surrender to God’s will. So Abraham reasoned that he, lucky to have anything, was a wretch and that God, doing everything at the right moment, was a King.
Beating this idea onto his back whenever he desired a son, Abraham grew tired of feeling and said to himself, “let’s call the whole thing off. God, you win.” Abraham credited this to himself as righteousness.
Abraham kept his head low and waited for heaven. He died a few years later and stood face to face with God.
“God, thy will be done.”
“I do not know you; you struggled with yourself rather than with me. I said to you to not be afraid, but you were afraid: afraid of a relationship with Me.
