And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:22-23
It was the shot heard around the world.
A moment that changed everything – one with eternal consequences.
Paradise eviction.
He is the Lord Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.
Abundant in power.
Formed humans out of dust.
By His breath, we breathe.
Is there anything He does not know?
In Him all things are held together.
Either God is in control or He isn’t.
And the Lord God commanded man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17
He knew.
He always knew.
He knew what Adam and Eve would choose before they chose it.
Was it all a cruel joke, a set up?
There is no love without freedom.
God is love – in Him there is no darkness.
Love is not control.
The very act of choosing demonstrates who and what I love.
To truly love and worship requires choice.
Freewill.
God gave us the ability to choose because we are created to give and receive love.
Love is demonstrated and transported through my choices.
A gift I choose to give or withhold.
God gave humanity the gift of freewill and choice even knowing what we’d choose.
Knowing we’d choose our will over Him.
He knew given the ability, humanity would choose to set themselves apart, be their own god, attempt to know what He knows.
It cast angels out of Heaven.
A God coup.
Jesus wasn’t Plan B.
Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereignty or knowledge.
We didn’t surprise Him or mess up His plan.
He always knew the price of love.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
There is no love without freedom.
In order to choose God, we must also have the ability to not choose Him.
Reject Him.
Walk away from Him.
Rebel against Him.
But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
He knew what we’d choose – then and now.
He was always willing to bear the cost.
Love lets go.
It doesn’t coerce or control.
Rules of men masked as religion promotes the lie of condition and omission.
I’m okay, you’re okay.
Us and them.
God so loved the world, He gave.
While we were soaked in sin and self, He left Heaven’s throne to deliver us.
A rescue mission of redemption.
Jesus wasn't Plan B Click To Tweet
God knew what we’d do – He made a way where there was no way.
A body bridge.
Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace.
Word made man.
The Great I am.
Humbled unto death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Jesus wasn’t Plan B.
The Author of life gave love through freewill.
He always knew the price of that gift was Himself.
He loves me enough to let me choose.
His ways or mine.
Do I obey His commands or go my own way?
Am I willing to make the sacrifices real love demands?
Love that is patient and kind.
Love that does not boast or envy.
Love that isn’t rude or easily angered.
Love that keeps no record of wrongs.
Love that protects, trusts, hopes.
Perseveres.
Puts others first.
I must choose it.
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:21-22
I can’t serve two masters.
Loving and serving involves sacrifice.
Losing to gain.
What good is it to gain the whole world yet lose my soul?
Choose this day whom I will serve.
More often than not, I choose me.
My ways seem so harmless and after all, I’m under grace – God understands.
“If you love Me, obey my commandments.” –Jesus, John 14:15
I want to believe it doesn’t matter.
God doesn’t really expect me to follow His commands.
Jesus died to set me free.
Twisted grace.
Relationship rape.
The world misses the Messiah because many who claim Him look and live the same. Click To Tweet
I seek and ask yet His Word has already answered.
Love your enemies.
Forgive seventy times seven.
Give to the poor.
Preach the gospel.
And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Die to live.
His life for mine.
Living sacrifice.
Sin is taking the good gifts of God and twisting them for purposes not intended.
• Love
• Sex
• Financial blessing
• Intellect
• Creativity
• Beauty
• Freewill
In His love and mercy, God allows me to use the gifts He gives as I choose.
He allows me to worship the Creator or the created.
It began in the Garden.
A choice, a decision to take and eat.
Rebel and step out of God’s boundaries.
Self service.
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25
The battle continues today.
The remedy remains.
Jesus, the way, the truth and the life.
No one returns except through Him.
Garden’s gate.
Love is in the choosing – revealed in what I seek.
He delights in unveiling Himself to those who search with sincere hearts.
Love of God, not rules of men.
Judge not, lest I be judged.
God broke and bled to give.
Give choice.
Give love.
Give life everlasting.
Father God, Lord Jesus, I’m overwhelmed by Your great love. You love me enough to let me choose – even knowing many of my choices will hurt You. Deny You. Separate myself from You. Thank you for not leaving me in the muck and mire. No matter how far I walk or run, because of Jesus, it’s one step back. In my weakness, You are strong. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercy, new every morning. Grow my heart and longing for You. Help me choose things that bring me closer to You. Help me to make choices that bring you honor and glory – choices that set captives free. Thank you that in times of difficulty and trouble all I need is to be still – You fight for me. You are good, mighty, faithful – the one true God. Help me to know you, love you and serve you better. I love you Father God, Lord Jesus. In Your amazing, matchless, Holy Name I pray, Amen.
Melinda Viergever Inman
February 2, 2019Beautiful post! Excellent theology! Liz, you captured so well the sovereignty of God and the love of God all wrapped up together. Plan A was the only plan. The Plan. The creation and the following events that unfolded went just God knew they would. That was always the plan. Jesus knew before creation that he would be dying for the very humans he created. God be praised!
Liz
February 2, 2019Hi Melinda! God be praised….thank you for reading and commenting and for confirming the message God gave me. His love is so all encompassing. In my humanness I sometimes lose sight of it. Sincerely honored by your words – thank you.
Melissa Henderson
February 2, 2019Worship Him. Do not worship “stuff”. Show His love to others. Obey His commandments. What a blessed life we are given! We need to show Him how much we love Him. 🙂
Liz
February 2, 2019Hi Melissa! I’m with you! He is so generous and loving – I want to live in ways that reflect His love back to Him and others. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Beth Bingaman
February 2, 2019“Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereignty or knowledge.
We didn’t surprise Him or mess up His plan.
He always knew the price of love.”
Amen, Sister
Liz
February 2, 2019Hi Beth! Amen sister – thank you for stopping by – it truly means so much. ❤️
Marcie Cramsey
February 2, 2019Liz, I absolutely love this post! Your heart for God came through in a powerful way! Thank you for allowing us to glimpse into your love relationship with Jesus!
Liz
February 2, 2019Hi Marcie! Glory to God ❤️❤️ Thank you for the blessing of your words…it’s Jesus who loves and pursues me…I love Him back the best I can. Love and hugs sister…You encouraged me today! ❤️
Wendy Wallace
February 3, 2019Liz, I was truly touched by your words. How often do we take our great and wonderful God for granted and choose self over Him? Thank you for reminding me of my shame. Your post is a wonderful blessing.
Liz
February 3, 2019Hi Wendy ❤️ glory to God…I know what you mean – self is a slippery slope and our society celebrates it. God is counterintuitive – lose to gain, the last is first. To find myself is to surrender and lose myself completely. Only then do I find myself in Him – the me He created me to be. ❤️ Blessings sister as we link arms and follow Jesus together. May He be lifted high in both of our lives. Thank you for the blessing of your presence and comment. ❤️
Candice Brown
February 3, 2019Thank you- beautifully put! We sometimes forget that the cross didn’t take God by surprise. I wasn’t brought up in the church and that was my biggest hang-up: not understanding the kind of love that would lay down his son for me, knowing I would reject him. Powerful!
Liz
February 3, 2019Hi Candice! Excited to see you here – love your writing. ❤️ I know what you mean…as God unpackaged this and I attempted to write His message, I was literally in tears as the enormity of His love hit me. It is hard for a human brain to comprehend divine…just a glimpse blows me away. Why I often choose things over God makes no sense – He is so good and faithful and loving. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. You bless me. ❤️
Julie
February 4, 2019Great post! God has control and knew what He was doing before the beginning of the world! That is something we can rest completely in!
Liz
February 4, 2019Heyyy Julie! Yes…resting in Him instead of spinning in my head is the surrender I’m working on. So happy He’s in control instead of me! Thanks so much for reading and commenting! ❤️
Lisa Murray
February 4, 2019Powerful message, Liz! I love, “I can’t serve two masters.Loving and serving involves sacrifice.Losing to gain.What good is it to gain the whole world yet lose my soul?” Yes! We often fail, but I, too, am thankful for a merciful God who picks me up and gives me another chance. Blessings to you!
Liz
February 4, 2019Hi Lisa! Yes…that’s it! Mercy and grace to follow and love Him imperfectly – thanks so much for adding to the conversation – good stuff. ❤️
Jessica Goyette
February 4, 2019I love the way this post was written, easy on my always-tired eyes! (I could learn a thing… or two 😉 )
I love the sovereignty of God. I love that He had a plan from the beginnning, to reconcile the world to Himself. I love HIs goodness to give us free will, it leaves us without excuse or a chance to say “God is cruel for sending us to hell”, as we know that hell was only ever made for the devil and his angels.
I love the majestic humility of God that He would lower Himself from the heavens of glory, humbling Himself even to the death of the cross.
I love my Saviour, my Redeemer and King!
Thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His plan.
Liz
February 4, 2019Hi Jessica! Yes, yes and yes! To all you say…He is so good and His love amazing….Can’t get enough of my Savior. Thank you for your feedback and comment – I sincerely appreciate it. Love your heart for Him sister! Blessings ❤️
Jessica Brodie
February 4, 2019Awesome post, Liz! Love this: “Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereignty or knowledge. We didn’t surprise Him or mess up His plan. He always knew the price of love.” Amen, amen. xoxo
Liz
February 4, 2019Hi Jessica! Glory to God sister…thank you for words that bless and confirm. ❤️ I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read and comment. ❤️
Stephen De La Vega
February 4, 2019I’ve been astounded in recent years about how our restoration was planned before the creation of the world. God planned so much before Jesus breathed the words, “Let there be…” This is a wonderful encouragement and challenge, Liz. How much have I done compared to how much He has done?
Liz
February 4, 2019Hi Stephen! I knowwww God is amazing! He showed me and I was wowed….I always thought we sinned and fell short so He reached down through Jesus – and He did. But to understand He knew in advance…it’s a love so big I stand in awe. Truth He showed you too – God and His Son, the Word made man, is beyond comprehension. The minuscule glimpses He gives just make me want more of Him. Love that in His wisdom and love He put us together brother – you bless me on His path. ❤️