The only condition placed on man in order to live in the Garden of Eden—the one thing the Creator required of him—was obedience to God’s command.
Notice what Genesis 2:16 says, “And the Lord God commanded the man…” (NKJV). And in Genesis 3:11 God questions man, “And He said, ‘Who told
you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?'” (NKJV).
As long as man continued within the guidelines of God’s instructions, he enjoyed paradise. There was no misery or hard times. Man was in perfect communion
with God. Nothing was mentioned about faith or love. It was obedience that determined man’s destiny.
Obedience always reaps the reward. Disobedience pays the consequences.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums it up this way: “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord
your God…and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God…” (NKJV).
Adam paid for his disobedience to God with a lifetime of toil and regret, remembering the way it used to be before his separation from God. The one uniting force between Adam and his seed is disobedience. But the strength that unites Christ and His seed is obedience.
Romans 5:19 states, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (NKJV).
The redemption which Jesus bought restores obedience to its rightful place.
Those who continually live contrary to the laws of God, not accepting His goodness, will reap a harvest based on their rejection of God’s Word.
In Exodus 4:24-26 we see where Moses was almost struck dead because of his failure to circumcise his son as God had commanded: “And it came to pass on
the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him” (NKJV). Thank God for a perceptive wife whose quick action saved
the day.
Because of King Saul’s rebellion, stubbornness, and rejection of God’s Word, he lost his kingdom (see 1 Samuel 15:23). When David committed adultery he
lost the son born of disobedience (see 2 Samuel 12:13-19).
When we develop the awareness of God’s holy presence abiding within us, we do whatever it takes to avoid disobeying Him. This fellowship will bring an
increased dependence on our Heavenly Father. Those who are truly obedient will remain in close communication with God.
As we begin to commune with God, we will realize that His presence empowers us to do the things which are pleasing in His sight. It is through this abandonment of our independence that we learn to become faithful. God is looking for those who will become more dependent upon Him. When we live a life of obedience to God’s instructions, we put ourselves in position for God’s miraculous power to move in us and through us.
