Fundamental Belief #7--The Nature of Man
Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and freedom to think and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent upon God for life and breath and all else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon Him and fell from their high position under God. The image of God in them was marred and they became subject to death. Their descendants share this fallen nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies to evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself and by His Spirit restores in penitent mortals the image of their Maker. Created for the glory of God, they are called to love Him and one another, and to care for their environment. (Find verses here. Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; Ps. 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Gen. 3; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Ps. 51:10; 1 John 4:7, 8, 11, 20; Gen. 2:15.)
This story is based on Genesis 3. As the story is quite long feel free to shorten the Cookie story.
The Story:
The Forbidden Cookies
Mom was going shopping with Grandma so Janie and Thomas would have a babysitter come to watch them while she was gone. Because mom wouldn't be home until almost supper time she left a platter of cut-up fruit in the refrigerator for Janie and Thomas to snack on when they got hungry. Mom knew the fruit would be good to nibble on while the children were waiting for mom to get home and prepare the supper. Before mom left in the car to pick up Grandma, she reminded the children about the fruit. She told them they could eat all the fruit they wanted but they must not touch the cookies that were on the bottom shelf of the fridge. They were for the church potluck on Sabbath. Janie and Thomas promised mom they wouldn't touch the cookies and waved good-bye as she left the house.The children spent a pleasant afternoon with their babysitter, Julie, playing outside in the warm sunshine. But as the afternoon wore on and suppertime was fast approaching, the children began to feel a little hungry. Julie suggested they run inside and get a snack of fruit that mom had prepared for them. Opening the refrigerator door Janie spied the cookies piled high on a platter covered with plastic wrap. Oh, they looked good but they were for the Sabbath potluck at church and she had promised mom she wouldn't eat them. Reluctantly, she reached for the plate of fruit and sat down at the table with Thomas and ate a little of the pineapple mom had lovingly cut up for her. But her mind was not on the fruit--all she could think about was that big platter of cookies in the fridge. Slowly she slid from her chair, walked to the fridge, opened the door and stared in at the cookies. Her thoughts were going round and round in her head. If she undid one end of the plastic wrap she could take a couple of cookies and no one would even know there were any missing. She knew she would be disobeying mom if she took the cookies but then she thought, "How would mom know? Why hadn't mom left them a couple of the cookies for a snack? Why was she so mean?"
By this time Thomas had come to the fridge to see what his big sister was doing. Janie looked at Thomas and said, "I'm going to take out two cookies. One for you and one for me. No one will know because I'll tuck the plastic wrap back in place. Mom should have left us some. The people at church don't need all these cookies."
"But we promised Mommy we wouldn't touch the cookies," Thomas almost whispered, "and Julie might catch us eating them."
"No she won't. She's busy out in the yard, putting the toys away. Here take this and eat it quick!" Janie snapped, as she handed Thomas one of the forbidden cookies.
Oh, those cookies were so good, full of chocolate and caramel. Janie thought it may have been the best cookie she'd ever eaten. Thomas watched Janie and took a little bite from his cookie and then another and another. Yes, these cookies were wonderful.
In moments the cookies were gone, fingers were licked and crumbs wiped away. Janie looked at Thomas. He didn't look too happy and she didn't feel too good herself. The sweetness of the cookie lingered in her mouth, a reminder of her broken promise. The memory of the cookie left a very unpleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach--not a tummy ache but more of a heart ache. By now she could barely look at Thomas and his downcast eyes told her of his sorry condition as well.
It wasn't long before both children heard mom's car come up the driveway. With burning cheeks, Janie headed toward her bedroom unable to face her mother. Thomas, taking a cue from his big sister, scurried off to his bedroom as well leaving the bewildered Julie wondering what had happened in the few minutes she had been cleaning the yard.
Mom jumped out of the car and hurried to the house. She knew her children would be hungry so she had bought a pizza on the way home so they could have a quick but special supper together. Mom called out, "I'm home. Supper will be ready in about five minutes. Come and help set the table."
Janie and Thomas came slowly to the kitchen, barely looking at mom, lest she could read in their eyes what they had done. Mom was busy making a salad to go along with the pizza and did not notice anything amiss with the children until they sat down to eat. Usually Janie and Thomas loved pizza but tonight they just picked at the meal.
"Aren't you hungry?" mom asked the two children, who barely nodded an answer. "I thought you'd enjoy a pizza."
"Yes, we like pizza, I guess we ate too much fruit," said Janie. Now she had lied and felt even worse.
"Oh, well, perhaps you'll enjoy a surprise dessert," said mom as she walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the platter of potluck cookies. "I was keeping these for church on Sabbath, but I'm going to let you have a sneak preview," she said laughing. "I think you'll like them because they're full of chocolate and caramel."
Mom laid the big platter in the centre of the table and nodded to the children to take a cookie but neither child raised a hand to take one. Puzzled, mom looked at her children and noticed tears in Janie's eyes. "What's wrong?" mom asked.
Janie burst out crying, "Oh, mom I'm so sorry! You shouldn’t have left the cookies in the fridge."
Thomas who was crying by now, pointed at his sister, “She made me eat a cookie.”
And with that, there were more tears as mom untangled the story of the cookies and both children confessed to their wrong-doing. Janie told mom all that had happened that afternoon and how she and Thomas had sneaked a cookie and tried to make it look like they hadn't. Both children were now really sorry for what they had done and asked mom to forgive them. Mom was sad her children had disobeyed but she forgave them because she loved them.
How easy it was for the children to disobey even though they had promised not to eat the cookies. You know boys and girls when God created this world and put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden everything was perfect. There were no mean thoughts, no mean words, no lies or hurting each other. The happy couple worked and played together in their lovely home. When it was time to eat they could pick any kind of lovely fruit that grew there in that garden–beautiful, delicious fruit with no imperfections. Adam never had to peel an apple or plum because it was bruised. When Adam and Eve went for a hike they didn’t have to worry about poisonous plants or dangerous animals. They didn’t have to wear heavy hiking boots to protect their feet. There in their Garden home everything was as perfect as the day God had made it.
Every evening God visited Adam and Eve and they looked forward to His visit as the best time of day. They loved their Creator and He loved them. Can you imagine how wonderful that must have been. Maybe Jesus would tell them the story of when the world was created. Maybe He would show them the marvels of stars and planets. This was also the time of day when they sang praises to God and worshipped Him. What a wonderful family worship that was!
Adam and Eve were very happy in their Eden home. God had given them the whole Garden to keep and enjoy but there was one special tree they were not to go near or touch. Although they could eat freely from the Tree of Life and any other tree in the Garden, they were not to touch or eat from that special tree. It was in the middle of the Garden and it was called the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". God said if they touched or ate the fruit on that tree they would surely die. It was their choice but it was not a hard thing to do. Just stay away from the tree. Obey and live!
Adam and Eve did keep away from the tree until one terrible day Eve wandered away and came upon that forbidden tree. Satan was there in the tree waiting for her. He didn't look like Satan. He looked like a beautiful, colourful, shining snake. The snake was talking and Eve was charmed by his voice and went nearer. The snake offered her the beautiful fruit from the tree but Eve told him God said she would surely die if she ate the fruit. The snake declared God was lying, that she would not surely die. He told her God didn't want her to become wise, knowing "good" and "evil". So Eve forgot about God who loved her and believed the serpent. She reached out her hand, took the fruit and ate it. She brought some to Adam and he ate it too.
Suddenly they knew "good" and "evil" and it was not wonderful and they were not wise. They felt cold and naked and separated from their best Friend, God. They were frightened and hid from God when he came to speak with them that evening. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the snake and they both blamed God.
Because Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin had come to our world and the human race. Sin could not remain in that perfect place so God told Adam and Eve they would have to leave their beautiful home and live outside the Garden where it would be cold and hard to live. Thorns would grow and choke the plants. Animals would become wild and some would have to die so people could have clothing to wear. Mother's would have lots of pain when babies were born. People would do evil things instead of loving God and one another. They would listen to Satan. What a sad, sad day that was!
When Adam and Eve left the Garden they could never go back again. An angel with a flaming sword guarded the entrance so they would not be able to eat from the Tree of Life. On that day they began to slowly die. But worst of all they would never speak face to face with God again.
But Jesus told them all was not lost--there was a plan. Wonder of wonders, He, Jesus, would come and die in their place so one day everything would be new again. He would die for everyone. No one would have to be lost forever. Satan would be conquered and destroyed and the “forever” death that Adam and Eve and their children deserved would be transferred to Jesus.
Ever since Adam and Eve first sinned our world and the people in it have been different. Thorns and thistles grow and choke out the good plants. Many animals are wild and dangerous. People think of themselves and don’t love God or each other. Many people listen to Satan. Our loved ones and friends die and we must wait for Jesus to return so we can see them again. But just as Jesus promised, He did die. He died for everyone. His blood covers all our sins if we confess, or tell Him what we have done, and ask Him to forgive us. Jesus has promised to give us the victory over our sins and change our lives from wanting to do bad things to living for Jesus. And He promised to take us to heaven and make our world new again where we will once again live in joy and happiness and talk with Jesus face to face every day.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are forever grateful for your love and the gift of eternal life. Help us to listen to You. Thank You for the victory over our naughty ways. Amen.
The Bible Verse:
So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free. Romans 7:23-25 (Living Bible)
The Song:
For God So Loved Us
For God so loved us, He sent the Saviour:
For God so loved us, and loves me too.
Chorus:
Love so unending! I’ll sing His praises,
God loves His children, loves even me.
He sent the Saviour, the blest Redeemer;
He sent the Saviour to set me free.
~Words by August D. Rische
#78 Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal
The Colouring Page:
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
http://www.budwining.net/2013/05/bible-coloring-pages-for-kids/bible-coloring-pages-for-kids-adam-and-eve
Adam and Eve driven out of the Garden
http://coloring.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/adam-and-eve-expelled.gif
The cross
http://jesuspictures-photos.blogspot.ca/2009_09_01_archive.html
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