The very first time I processed any thoughts for the writing of my book BEYOND THE BOLTED DOOR was when I wondered about the significance of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. It felt to me like we missed something BIG there. And I researched and wrote and thought, and decided that would be the baseline of a book I might write. It started right there. In fact the title of the book I might write was going to be called “The Land Before Knowledge/Return to Innocence” and about how innocence was lost because OF the knowledge of good and evil – we were NEVER supposed to know about evil. Never.
CAN WE RETURN TO EDEN?
My original first entry for my book looked like this (written March 2020) – I guess I am just clawing my way back to my own garden, back to find the land before knowledge. Let’s go back to the original garden – the Garden of Eden, also referred to as Paradise. It was the perfect place to reside, and probably a place all humans are longing to find. I wonder if in some way all of our roots are planted deep in Eden. I wonder if our pull to something else, to something more, to something better is our soul’s way of trying to reconnect with what was originally offered to us. We could have all lived in the Garden of Eden. If sin had never crept in, bringing in the knowledge of good and evil, then we would have all had the same home address. However, sin DID creep in and well, the rest is the history of man. Am I understanding maybe that we should never EVER have had any knowledge of evil? Sin is something that unfortunately we are ALL born into. It seems we are doomed. It seems there is no way out. It seems evil will win over good. What matters now is that we find our way back to what God always wanted for us, and the reason why He gave us His Son. He wants to return us to the Garden. I have come to believe this IS a real possibility, to find innocence once again within ourselves.
IT ALL BEGAN WITH TWO TREES
Clearly my heart’s cry at the very onset was to find my own innocence lost, and I really questioned if that was possible.
I find that a lot of what I have learned along my book writing journey has been about trees, so it should be NO surprise that a TREE is where it all began – for ALL of us. “There were however two important trees in the middle of the garden that were different from the rest. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life as it states gave life, particularly eternal life. The other tree would produce death.” (Bible Topical Studies)
Adam and Eve were told they could partake of the fruit of any tree in the Garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because IF they did, their eyes would be opened. It was called forbidden fruit – “the definition of forbidden fruit is an immoral or illegal pleasure.” (Wikipedia) Immoral. Hmmmm… This right here tells me we were NOT meant to know everything. And, we do – to our demise. We live IN the time that the Bible calls the increase of knowledge – “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the END. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:4)
WAS IT AN APPLE?
I wonder SO much if it was really an apple that was the fall of mankind – or more what that is symbolic of? What did Eve do that cursed us all? What was so good to partake of, that she then dragged down her beloved, perfect specimen of a husband with her? Was it worth the risk they both took? What was SO tempting? It WAS the knowledge – it was the seduction – it was the danger – and that is the SAME knowledge we all face – that evil thing that Satan uses in the background – in the shadows – in the darkness to ruin our lives. God made all things beautiful – remember, Adam and Eve didn’t even know they were naked. (this shows their innocence; nothing TO be ashamed of.) There was NO shame in the Garden of Eden. Until. Until they partook of the forbidden fruit. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” (Genesis 3.7). They lost the blessing and the privilege of innocence. Really, think about that and you will see the truth – it is right there in plain view.
INNOCENCE LOST AND FOUND
The land before knowledge IS innocence! Evil knowledge holds us captive behind a bolted door of secrets and shame, while our soul is crying to be FREE. We must return to Eden in our own hearts. And you CAN. How do I know? Because I DID! I found what I have been missing my entire life.
“You’re my hope unbroken.
You’re my innocence.
I am free like a river;
I’m a child again.” (“Child Again” by NeedToBreathe)
When we open up our heart in its most authentic state (no matter what that is) God shines His light on it NOT to condemn what He sees there, but to redeem and restore us from evil. He takes our worst case possible condition and begins at square ONE to re-do us. Yes, Adam and Eve set the evil knowledge wheels in motion, but God sent Jesus to turn it all around. And, that innocence lost? We CAN find it again in the purity of the love of Jesus, shed abroad in our hearts. The OTHER knowledge on that tree was GOOD, remember.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of LIFE, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the HEALING of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).
I think we could sum up that indeed, first in our hearts and then when we leave this planet – we ARE being wooed BACK to Eden (Heaven). And NO evil will be there.
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