And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:29-31 (ESV)
When he was a toddler, our son went through a spell where he was fascinated by electrical outlets. We dealt with it fairly easily at home, by inserting little plastic caps in every outlet that wasn’t being used. It was a totally different scenario when we went to other people’s homes. Give him a room full of people and toys, and his sole focus was that uncovered outlet. He had no concept of the risk it posed and grew frustrated when Mom and Dad told him no.
In Genesis Chapter One, we read that God planned for man’s needs and sustenance. He created plants, seeds, birds, animals, and everything that has the breath of life, then appointed man as regent over all of creation (vs. 26). He gave him everything but that one forbidden fruit.
Our son’s behavior proved that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (sorry for the terrible pun). Adam and Eve heard God clearly when He said, “I give you everything but the fruit of that tree.” Yet they chose to ignore God’s warning to pursue their own desire. A desire that led to irreparable damage – to them and to their relationship with their creator.
It is grievous when we, who have been so abundantly blessed, pursue that ‘one thing’ that is contrary to God’s Word: an illicit affair (2 Samuel 11), addiction, porn, or whatever disrupts your spiritual walk. Admit it, address it, confess it, then do whatever it requires to remove yourself from the temptation of that ‘one thing’ (Matthew 18:9). It can destroy your life, your relationships, the lives of others, and your communion with God.
Trust me, it’s not worth the price.