I remember years ago traveling and working with an Australian Evangelist. We were traveling and preaching the gospel around New Zealand. I remember he used to say Adam and Eve in the beginning were perfect; but they were also untested. I believe God allowed Adam and Eve to be tested. Unfortunately they failed the test and allowed sin to enter the human race. Jesus came as the last Adam to redeem this great failure. He was tested in the wilderness by the enemy and he passed the test. As a result of the Cross, he has redeemed humanity from sin and all of it’s effects!
I have been thinking about that moment with Adam and Eve in the garden. God had spoken to them and told them that they could eat of any tree, but He made it very clear to them that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil should be left alone. The devil came to Eve, he came to undermine God’s Word, he came to undermine her marriage, he came to undermine the perfection and beauty of humanity. The devil always comes to mar, and pervert the beauty of God’s Creation.
He came to Eve and said “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b) His goal was to get her to doubt God’s word. My question in all of this is “Where was God?” Where was God saying “Eve, please don’t do this! If you eat of this tree you will surely die! Don’t agree with the lies of the enemy!” God was watching Eve and Adam from a distance. He was watching to see how they would respond. To see whether they would pass the test set before them. God allowed them to be tested. He allowed them to exercise the dominion and authority that he had given them.
Unfortunately they lost that dominion, failed the test and the whole world came under the dominion of the enemy as a result. And today nothing has changed. God allows us to face the enemy and allows us to be tested. Fortunately we have a risen Savior we can put our faith in. We have Jesus, the one who has taken all of our sin on the cross. We have Jesus who has won the victory over all of the enemy’s power.
Today, you may being going through some difficult moment or season in your life. You may be being tested, and refined in the fire. I want to encourage you. God hasn’t changed His mind about you. He loves you, He’s still faithful. It might not seem like it, but He’s still in control. Be encouraged, hang in there, even if its by a thread. You will come through this fire sparkling like a precious diamond, shining like the finest gold.
