In
times of trouble we ask ourselves questions because we want answers
to the problem(s) before us. And, the more important the problem(s),
the more questions we ask. If the situation is urgent, we may ask
questions rapid fire in the hopes of finding any answer (good or
bad). In the search for problem solving, questions are important, but
what if you already had the answer to your problem BEFORE you even
said a word? In addition to the Bible passage listed in the picture,
I thought of another one as well…
The
Problem
Genesis
3 ( World English
Bible )
[1] Now
the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh
God had made. He
said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of
any tree of the garden?’”
[2] The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, [3] but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
[4] The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, [5] for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
[6] When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. [7] Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. [8] They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
[9] Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
[10] The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
[11] God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
[12] The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
[13] Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?”
[2] The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, [3] but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
[4] The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, [5] for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
[6] When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. [7] Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. [8] They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
[9] Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
[10] The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
[11] God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
[12] The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
[13] Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?”
The
Solution
2
Peter 1 (WEB)
[3] seeing
that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his
own glory and virtue; [4] by
which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great
promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by
lust. [5] Yes,
and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your
faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence,
knowledge; [6] and
in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in
patience godliness; [7] and
in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection,
love. [8] For
if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle
nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For
he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having
forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. [10] Therefore,
brothers, be
more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do
these things, you will never stumble. [11] For
thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal
Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Two
passages, one labeled “the problem” and the other “the
solution”. The problem was a lack of trust, knowledge and
obedience, which opened the door to deception and ultimately to
death. The solution was trust, knowledge and obedience coupled with
God’s sacrifice of Jesus.
Adam
and Eve could have asked God for help, but instead, they relied upon
their own “wisdom” and the result – death. But, if we look to
God for help, we have Jesus. All we have to do is to obey him and
live.
More
questions? Open your Bible and find the answers.
Like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter… [3] seeing
that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and
virtue; [4] by
which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great
promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by
lust.
Begin
searching the Scriptures today, while there is yet time to do so;
don’t wait!