Innocence

Genesis 2:15-17

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God never changes. What He has willed for our lives is the same today as it was 6,000 years ago. His first command was that we tend to the Garden.

The Garden is still here. It has been over-run with thorns and thistles, and has turned to rocky mountain paths and dry deserts, and sometimes flooded valleys; but the command is the same today as it was on that day.

God also gave us a warning to remain innocent. As long as we followed His command not to know, ignorance is bliss and faith abounds.

I know people who don't want to know if something bad has happened. It's like the old figurines of the three monkeys: "See no evil", "Hear no evil", "Speak no evil". They believe that if you don't see it, hear it or speak it, it isn't there.

We know that is not true; but, knowing that makes us less than innocent bystanders.

As children, we are considered innocent until we know the difference between right and wrong. As long as we don't know the difference, our actions and reactions can be easily excused and forgiven. However, once we KNOW the difference, sin become willful and dangerous.

This is what God did not want for us. He wanted us to remain innocent. Innocence brings joy to everyone -- except Satan. For some reason, Satan is jealous of the innocent. I assume is it because the joy they bring to the table of God, Satan cannot do.

Today, we know the difference. We are no longer "innocent". Only the blood of Jesus can redeem us, and we must acknowledge and accept that sacrifice every moment of our lives in order to be called by His Name.