Many people dream of finding paradise in a far flung corner of the earth. But how long into the holiday does it take before the stresses and strains of human relationships begin to irritate? Loading up the car? A nightmare journey to the airport? But even once you are there mis-communication, selfish interests and pride can prevent you enjoying the goodness of it. Yet strangely, should you decide that human relationships are so complicated that you go on your own — how long can you live with only your own company?!
There was a day when everything in the garden was rosy. God made a world that was perfect and good. The Garden of Eden gave freedom for the first couple to enjoy one another's company and spend it enjoying God and his world.1
There was only one thing he told them not to do and — guess what — they did it! One ancient writer wrote of his frustration. Is this anything like your experience?
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing... When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.2
The Bible is clear — the problem with this world is that it is made up of human beings like me!
1. The account of
the Garden of Eden is found in Genesis 1-2, and mankind's fall into sin
is in chapter 3 of that book.
2. Found in the book of Romans Ch
7:18-12