The other day LT (Little Timer – my 5 year old grandson) and I headed out to the store because he requested my spaghetti and, although I had the jar marinara, – don’t judge! – I didn’t have the fresh herbs I bouquet in cheese cloth and add along with the three meats and fresh garlic. I told you not to judge. It’s actually quite excellent.
On the way to anywhere LT and I either listen to “the boys” ** Def Leppard – again, don’t judge… they’re a fantastic lesson for young people on loyalty (read what the band did when their drummer lost his arm in 1985)**, OR we have some pretty deep conversations for a 5 year old and his Nana. This day was no different. LT opted for conversation.
Our conversation started out light about grandparents… I made a silly statement that quickly turned awkward: I said everyone’s great-x-1-million-grandparents were Adam and Eve. NEVER missing anything, LT siezed on that and I saw that was going sideways quickly. I turned the conversation focus pointedly just to Adam and Eve IN the garden since LT knows how much I love plants and gardening. We then talked about all the things we thought could be in the garden and how they could just walk around eating good stuff all the time. LT was curious about the fruit and tree and Satan. So I began the task of telling the story of the Fall, the original sin, and how that led to today. I told him Satan didn’t tell Eve a bold-face lie, but that when God told Adam and Eve if they “ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die,” God didn’t really mean DEAD. Satan deceived them with semantics. (Yes, I defined semantics – how else do kids learn.)
During the telling of this complex, yet true story, of course there were tons of questions – LT can ASK the questions. The true task is to stay on topic and keep his focus and interest… he is just 5.
Then just as you and I eternally struggle with this concept, LT asked THE question: why did God put that tree in the garden? Yay! Don’t be afraid of that question – EVER!!! To prove He is a just God. To prove His love. To prove He is provential and sovereign. He also wanted obedience out of love from those He created in His image. He didn’t want robots. His angels obey, but they’re not made in His image.
I redirected the emphasis of the focus on why God created Adam and Eve. Fellowship. What is fellowship, he asks? Easy. What we’re doing right now: talking, spending time together, learning from and enjoying each other. I told him about God, before their sin, spending the evenings walking with Adam and Eve in the garden. We talked about what that would be like. Just the week before, LT spent several hours outside with me, in the HOT sun, busting up a rock wall, breaking apart the mortar, putting the rocks in the back of the truck, and unloading them in the backyard. That boy will work!!! (Nana compensated him handsomely!) So, he understands fellowship.
I happily told LT the conclusion of this true story is NOT Adam and Eve being banished from the garden and separation from God. THE conclusion is Christ making the effect of Adam and Eve’s sin null and void through His birth, life, death on the cross, and resurrection because He loves us and desires our love and fellowship. The FACT that He *from eternity past* knew He would fulfill His Father’s will proves His love and faithfulness in which we can eternally rest and trust. Yes, LT knows these truths.
Freedom Matters 