Pearls of Great Value

There's something about the first questions. Something important that maybe Eve didn't realize. Questions often come with underlying intentions, and first questions set the stage for where the train is heading. One has to ask themselves, "Am I supposed to engage in this line of questioning or am I not? Where is it heading?"

Why didn't Satan just outright ask Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? Because it probably would not have worked. Eve would have seen through that scheme. Yet with just a question about the goodness of God, she was deceived into taking and eating a fruit that previously she was okay with not eating. 

The temptation started with doubts about God. "Did God really say, you are not to eat from any tree of the garden?" Behind this question is the demonic lie that God is withholding from you something that is exciting. The question planted seeds of doubt in Eve's mind. She maybe started asking herself, Why had God said not to eat from the tree, what was He holding back from her?

 This line of questioning is still used by Satan today to deceive many believers. Eve's first mistake was to engage in conversation with the enemy. We are made for conversation with God who enlightens our hearts and gives us truth and wisdom. When we turn away and converse with the enemy of our soul we are fed lies and led into darkness. It is often the case that we will swallow a lie about God first before we eat a forbidden fruit. 

The serpent continued to craft misconceptions into Eve's heart and said, “It is not true that you will surely die; because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” He was telling Eve there would be no consequences for her sin. How often do we commit an act of sin and think, "Ah, it's only small, it doesn't matter?" Yet, it does matter! It matters very much, as we can see with Eve. Eating the fruit wasn't such a great evil, was it? If we look at this line of thinking we immediately sense something isn't right about it. The sin was in the act of disobedience. It does not matter how big or how small it is, if God has commanded it, it is not a good idea to disobey Him. We end up hurting ourselves more and doing much damage when we wilfully act against His desires. There are always consequences for sin. Always. 

The fruit looked good and pleasing to the eye. This is how temptation appears to us. It looks good to our eye and it pleases our flesh. And for a momentary pleasure man falls to its charms only to be bitten by its poison later. And as frequently happens, a cover-up follows the sin. Adam and Eve made for themselves clothes of fig leaves to cover their shame. 

Do you know the first question that God asked in the bible? It's this: "Where are you?"

Even in their wrongdoing, even in their hiding, Adam and Eve were never left alone or forsaken by God. He did not give up on them. His first response to their sin wasn't Him turning His back to them. No, He came and sought them out. This is what true love does. It seeks to help, to heal, to rectify. Love is patient and kind, it is not selfish, nor does it keep a record of wrongs. It doesn't abandon but rather seeks to redeem. 

Whenever you fall away from Him, He will always seek you out and whisper, "Where are you? Come back home!" The question of where are you is to bring your attention to your surroundings. To make you aware of the position you are in. See, Adam and Eve always walked with God at the cool of the day. That day they weren't there. They were out of position. We are meant to be walking with God and when we don't show up, He seeks us out and asks us, "Where are you?" 

The question isn't for Him. He already knows where we are. The question is for us. It's probably a good question to ask ourselves daily. Where am I? Am I walking with God? Am I listening to Him? Or am I hiding and running in the opposite direction? If this is where you find yourself, hiding behind some fig leaves of your own making, (which will not last long by the way) I pray that even at this moment you will stop, turn, and run to God. He has the answer. He will take your fig leaves and replace them with a white robe of righteousness. An everlasting robe! That sounds lovely, doesn't it? He won't condemn you beloved. He'll help you! Cause that is what a Father does. 

That brings us to the first question in the New Testament. It's about Jesus. In Matthew 2:2, the magi inquire of Herod," Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?"

These wise men sought the child and found him. And when they saw him they bowed down and worshipped him bringing to him gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. The word of God in Matthew 7:7 promises this to us: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you." 

Ask, Seek, Knock. If you want three words for this year, take those. Ask of the Lord! Require of Him. For every one that asks of Him receives. James writes to us and straight out says, "Many of you don't receive because you do not ask!" How is it that we serve the God of all wisdom, of all riches, of all might and strength, yet rarely ask of Him these things? It's a strange phenomenon. 

Seek Him! Seek His word consistently. Every answer is there. You will find Him if you seek him. You will. God promises to richly reward those who diligently seek Him. He doesn't hide from you, rather He hides goodness, like treasures, FOR you to find. Think of how one prizes a treasure they have found, especially if they have been seeking a lengthy amount of time.

Knock on that door! Take opportunities that come to you. Don't let them pass you by. And if by chance you see a stranger and feel an urge to talk to them, do it. That's a heart, a door, that God wants to enter into. Is there a job opportunity that suddenly becomes available? Take it and take God with you into that workspace. Doors come in many different shapes and forms. Ask God to show you the doors today and then walk up and knock. Knocking is action. Is there an action you can do today that will upon up a door or pathway? Take it! You never know what you'll find on the other side. 

I pray for us to have a year of growth. A year of asking the right questions and if ever we run into doubt or confusion, may we not engage in conversation with them. Let us make this a year of talking with God. A year of conversing more with our Creator, with the fount of wisdom. May it become a habit, so ingrained in us, that we show up for the walk with God before we have even thought about it. Great is His faithfulness! May our faith also shine through and reflect His. Blessed new Year! 

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The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; 

The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). Numbers 6:24-26 AMPC