The Test of Obedience!

The Hebrew word Eden means 'delight and pleasure' and is symbolic of the ultimate source of all delight and pleasure.  It was a perfect world created by God for Man.  Adam's work was also pleasurable.   Fruit-bearing trees filled the garden.  All that Adam and Eve saw were theirs.  God Himself walked with them every evening.  While God allowed Adam and Eve to enjoy every tree, He forbade them to partake of one tree!  That was His command and the Lord followed it with a pronouncement of punishment to impress upon them the importance of that command!  I do not know if that forbidden tree had magical properties, but I believe it was a test of obedience!  What God expected from Adam and Eve was just obedience!  It is sad to see neither the goodness of God manifested in the Creation nor the fear of punishment could stop them from eating that forbidden fruit.  Adam and Eve failed miserably in their test of obedience! 

Why is obedience necessary? 

Obedience to God's commands is the true sign of our love for God, and Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Jesus also said, "…blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it " (Luke 11:28).  The only way we can know if we obey God is by knowing His Word and His requirements.  The Lord told the Israelites, "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession"(Ex 19:5).  The Exodus account teaches us that the Israelites could not enter the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey, because of their disobedience!  Moses advised Joshua saying, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

Obedience to God is the key that unlocks all God's blessings, and disobedience locks us out of God's blessing!  

My friend, obedience to God leads to a closer relationship with Him. The call to obedience is only for our benefit. God knows what is best for us and He knows how to grow us to be true followers of Christ. Obedience in the small things is the foundation leading to obedience in the big things and it prepares us for the future we are hoping for!  

---