What must it have been like to have been made in the garden? If your only memories were of perfection, bliss and perfect harmony, how hard would it have been to leave? How would it have torn your heart to see it all slipping away, because of something you did? What does it mean to trust God beyond the feeling?
Can we move beyond the place where Eve stood, looking longingly toward the tree. There she was caught between God's Word and the serpent's lie. As she ponders, her perception rises up and sides on the side of the serpent. Her senses agree with the lie. What now?
Oh, it is easy to judge her from outside the garden. We forget the times today, this hour, this second where we have stood looking longingly toward our tree, caught between God's Word and the serpent's lie. What will we do when our senses side on the side of the serpent?
It is oh so easy to judge her from outside the garden.
It is a long journey, learning this art of abiding in Christ. When it feels, like you are all alone, what then? The Word says, "I will never leave you," but your heart feels... It is then that the serpent whispers.
How does one settle down into the circle of God's love and trust it, because it is and not allow the sensation of our lack of worth drive us out of His presence? Was it this sense that drove our parents to hide behind the trees and make their futile attempts at clothing themselves?
What does righteousness by faith look like with clothes on it? Did it look like God unclothing Adam and Eve from the clothes they had made, removing piece by piece the lies that were blinding their eyes and their hearts? The lie that they could fix it themselves. The lie that they could hide their imperfections from God. The lie that they didn't need God. When God made them clothes of animal skins, did Eve's heart break to see the precious lamb's blood flow? Was this what righteousness by faith looked like?
Corrie ten Boom said, "Don't wrestle, just nestle." Is this what it means to trust beyond the feeling. To hold on tightly to truth, no matter what it feels like. At some point along the way, will we realize that when we are holding on to Truth it is holding on to Jesus, Himself? If we cling to Him we will find ourselves in the shelter of His wings.
If we can gaze into His eyes, and take our eyes off of the tree, will we find it is harder to hear the serpent? I believe that while nestling in His arms, it will be easier to verify our perceptions with His will and to trust Him beyond the feeling.
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