The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Genesis 2:9
Most Christians do not understand the place of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in our lives. We often think it is an ancient tree which existed in the time of Adam and Eve. We believe that this tree had poisonous fruit which once eaten, would kill the eater.
Unfortunately, Adam and Eve ate of this tree and died. When we read this story, we think to ourselves, “It was a pity for Adam and Eve to have eaten this poisonous fruit and thankfully we will never be tempted by such a tree”.
Alas, we will have to deal with this same tree and its fruits. What you must realize is that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is still in existence today. It presents the same temptation to us as it did to Adam and Eve. It presents itself as an alternative to God.
Once you have eaten of this tree, you know what is right and what is wrong. You know things that are good and things that are evil. Once you are armed with this knowledge (of what is right and what is wrong) you don’t really need God to tell you what to do. You can navigate through life and ministry using the knowledge you have acquired.
It is not apparent to the shallow thinker what devastating effects the knowledge of good and evil can have. After all, it is not the knowledge of evil, but the knowledge of good and evil. This tree does one thing to you and it is the worst thing possible! It separates you from the guidance of God and dependence on Him.
As you grow in experience in this life, you gradually assimilate the knowledge of good and evil. By the time you are seventeen years old, you probably know of many things that are good for you or are evil for you. This is the knowledge that comes to all mankind. Now comes the difference between Christians and non-Christians.
Non-Christians and the Tree
Non-Christians continue to live, doing things that are evil whilst justifying themselves continually. They especially justify their lives by referring to the good things that they do as being the basis for being okay.
Since they know what is good and what is evil, they do not need to go to church, to pray or to serve God. This creates a large group of people who live without God simply because they think they know what is right and wrong in this life.
Once they do a few good things, they justify themselves and overlook any evil they may be involved in.
Another group of people who have eaten of this tree think that religion is unnecessary, and that many church activities are simply a waste of time. The reading of the Bible is frivolous and a waste of time; once some moral standards are kept, everyone will be okay. Such people even think that the priest is trying to maintain his job by creating unnecessary little by-laws to keep the congregation under control.
Unfortunately, this is where the perversions of mankind make their entry. In Europe, homosexuality is considered as good and not evil, whereas having sex with little children is considered to be evil and not good.
This self-determined standard of good and evil has thereby created a perverted world of twisted human beings living without God.
Europe has people who are perfect examples of those who have eaten of the tree of good and evil and excluded God completely from their lives. Europeans chase murderers around the world and prosecute people who commit war crimes and genocide with a passion.
They believe in what they understand to be right. Meanwhile, they destroy the fabric of their society by allowing men to marry men and teaching homosexuality to children in schools.
Very few Europeans would ever go to church. Their cathedrals and church buildings are empty on Sunday mornings. On Sunday morning, European families enjoy breakfast and have a good family time together since they consider that to be a good thing. Church is now frivolous and unnecessary to them.
You can see how subtly but powerfully the knowledge of good and evil has eliminated God from our lives and created a lost and desolate race of human beings.
Christians and the Tree
Desolation comes into the life of Christians through this same tree. After serving God for a while, Christians know more about the laws of God and assume that they know what is right and what is wrong.
This way of thinking is what creates a separation between God and so-called mature Christians. It seems that people who have been Christians for some time are in the greatest danger from this tree. Long-standing Christians exclude God from their lives by holding onto what they know to be right or wrong and not being open to what God may be currently doing.
Have you wondered why God does new things and starts new movements through outsiders and young people? The older, established Christians and institutions often know too much to be open to God. God is often excluded from the minds and hearts of those who have served Him for a long time.This is a frightening but real phenomenon.
I am writing about this because Christians must recognize its reality before they are poisoned by their knowledge of good and evil.
by Dag Heward-Mills
by the best selling African Author
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Genesis 2:9
Most Christians do not understand the place of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in our lives. We often think it is an ancient tree which existed in the time of Adam and Eve. We believe that this tree had poisonous fruit which once eaten, would kill the eater.
Unfortunately, Adam and Eve ate of this tree and died. When we read this story, we think to ourselves, “It was a pity for Adam and Eve to have eaten this poisonous fruit and thankfully we will never be tempted by such a tree”.
Alas, we will have to deal with this same tree and its fruits. What you must realize is that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is still in existence today. It presents the same temptation to us as it did to Adam and Eve. It presents itself as an alternative to God.
Once you have eaten of this tree, you know what is right and what is wrong. You know things that are good and things that are evil. Once you are armed with this knowledge (of what is right and what is wrong) you don’t really need God to tell you what to do. You can navigate through life and ministry using the knowledge you have acquired.
It is not apparent to the shallow thinker what devastating effects the knowledge of good and evil can have. After all, it is not the knowledge of evil, but the knowledge of good and evil. This tree does one thing to you and it is the worst thing possible! It separates you from the guidance of God and dependence on Him.
As you grow in experience in this life, you gradually assimilate the knowledge of good and evil. By the time you are seventeen years old, you probably know of many things that are good for you or are evil for you. This is the knowledge that comes to all mankind. Now comes the difference between Christians and non-Christians.
Non-Christians and the Tree
Non-Christians continue to live, doing things that are evil whilst justifying themselves continually. They especially justify their lives by referring to the good things that they do as being the basis for being okay.
Since they know what is good and what is evil, they do not need to go to church, to pray or to serve God. This creates a large group of people who live without God simply because they think they know what is right and wrong in this life.
Once they do a few good things, they justify themselves and overlook any evil they may be involved in.
Another group of people who have eaten of this tree think that religion is unnecessary, and that many church activities are simply a waste of time. The reading of the Bible is frivolous and a waste of time; once some moral standards are kept, everyone will be okay. Such people even think that the priest is trying to maintain his job by creating unnecessary little by-laws to keep the congregation under control.
Unfortunately, this is where the perversions of mankind make their entry. In Europe, homosexuality is considered as good and not evil, whereas having sex with little children is considered to be evil and not good.
This self-determined standard of good and evil has thereby created a perverted world of twisted human beings living without God.
Europe has people who are perfect examples of those who have eaten of the tree of good and evil and excluded God completely from their lives. Europeans chase murderers around the world and prosecute people who commit war crimes and genocide with a passion.
They believe in what they understand to be right. Meanwhile, they destroy the fabric of their society by allowing men to marry men and teaching homosexuality to children in schools.
Very few Europeans would ever go to church. Their cathedrals and church buildings are empty on Sunday mornings. On Sunday morning, European families enjoy breakfast and have a good family time together since they consider that to be a good thing. Church is now frivolous and unnecessary to them.
You can see how subtly but powerfully the knowledge of good and evil has eliminated God from our lives and created a lost and desolate race of human beings.
Christians and the Tree
Desolation comes into the life of Christians through this same tree. After serving God for a while, Christians know more about the laws of God and assume that they know what is right and what is wrong.
This way of thinking is what creates a separation between God and so-called mature Christians. It seems that people who have been Christians for some time are in the greatest danger from this tree. Long-standing Christians exclude God from their lives by holding onto what they know to be right or wrong and not being open to what God may be currently doing.
Have you wondered why God does new things and starts new movements through outsiders and young people? The older, established Christians and institutions often know too much to be open to God. God is often excluded from the minds and hearts of those who have served Him for a long time.This is a frightening but real phenomenon.
I am writing about this because Christians must recognize its reality before they are poisoned by their knowledge of good and evil.
by Dag Heward-Mills
by the best selling African Author
