I love getting to teach little ones about Jesus and serve with other adults who lead Bible truth lessons and pour out love on these kids. Sometimes, the kids are loud and crazy, and other times, they say hilarious and thought-provoking stuff.
Thankfully, it was not my turn to lead Bible truth time because I'm unsure what I would've said to this kid.
Another adult was teaching the kids about Adam and Eve. A happy Genesis 2 story with naming animals and creating Eve. It's a common lesson for preschoolers and a big set-up for the fall of mankind. Very important. We just finished the days of creation, and we were moving on to the first humans living in the Garden of Eden.
As the teacher changed the picture card, one girl called out, "Where's his shirt?" The leaders knew Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed until they sinned and God made them clothes in Genesis 3. But we're dealing with little kids, so we're going to tell the truth and keep it appropriate for their maturity level.
Our wise teacher handled it professionally and told the kids that the garden was so good, not too hot or cold, and the man didn't need a shirt. That answer satisfied the girl, so the teacher continued the lesson.
She told the children that there was only one rule for Adam and Eve. They were not allowed to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil or they would die.
A little boy asked, "Why?" Aren't they always asking this simple question? So, we're often ready to give a response.
The teacher explained that it was God's rule for Adam and Eve to obey. It was true that they would die if they disobeyed. The lesson focus was on truth. God's word is truth, no matter what.
This kid, whom I had to remind several times to sit down properly, didn't think that was a good enough answer. "But why?" He sat up on his knees again.
I'm not sure if our teacher heard him or not. There was quite a bit of chit-chat going on. She switched the picture card and continued with the lesson.
"I would go cut it," he said. "Cut that tree."
I bit my lips into my mouth to keep silent. I've heard people ask why God created the tree, but I'd never heard this response. Also, I would have too much fear to tell God that I'm going to cut His tree. But this kid is just a kid.
However, I couldn't get his words out of my mind. Go cut it. What a proactive solution!
Aren't we like that sometimes? Let's get rid of the temptation. No more tree equals no more problems. Find an axe and cut it out of our lives. But it's not that easy.
The Lord's prayer says in Matthew 6:13, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (ESV)
Jesus knew the temptations of the world weren't going away. We don't want to go in that direction. We pray for God to save us from that evil. We can't remove our problems. We have to work through them.
Every external moral struggle we have has a deeper internal issue.
There are lots of reasons we do wrong things. Maybe the first time was something small, then we convinced ourselves it was no big deal. Before we know it, we're caught in a spiral of dependence on something, a need for more, or an addiction that can't be fought alone.
But God gives us a way out. Jesus is the way. (1 Corinthians 10:13, John 14:6)
If Jesus really took the punishment for our sin when He died on the cross, then why are we trying to take it back? We want to take the sin back and prove that we can conquer it with our own axe.
But...
We can't.
Only Jesus can take that sin away and give us freedom. He is the truth that sets us free.
He is the life. When you believe in Him, the Holy Spirit comes into you and works through your life (1 Corinthians 3:16). He gives you the joy, patience, and self-control you need (Galatians 5:22-23). He doesn't give you an axe to cut down the tree. He leaves the tree and sanctifies you (Thessalonians 4:3).
This sanctification toward holiness is your character being built by daily trust and obedience. Do you trust the God who created the tree? Do you follow the God who allows temptations? He's not the one tempting you (James 1:13).
Our problem isn't the tree or the temptation; it's sin. It's putting ourselves above God. When He's not first, it shows in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Eventually, we bite the forbidden fruit.
Don't go to the middle of the garden to admire the fruit. Don't listen to the twisted lies of the serpent. And don't try to cut down the tree. Instead, stay on the righteous path and give God the axe.
Flip the devil's lie and see how this is used for glory.
The temptation is your opportunity to obey God. You get to choose to trust God. You get to worship His sovereignty in this moment.
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