Jesus EverlastingSample

Day 1: When God Became Not Enough

In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in it, including man and woman. Please notice the phrase in Genesis 1:31: “it was very good.” It was good—all of it—until it wasn’t. There was beauty, good food, and freedom. There was no sin and no shame. There was peace and open communication with God. God was in charge. Man and woman were subject to Him and it was good, until man and woman exchanged God’s good for their own idea of good. 

One day, someone told Eve that what God had given wasn’t good … enough. He told her that she could have more. More wasn’t part of God’s design. He had given the man and woman everything they needed and it was enough.

All they needed was in the garden, on the east side of Eden. God planted many trees, each uniquely beautiful. In the middle of the garden were two trees—the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). Adam and Eve were given permission to enjoy all the things in the garden, except one tree. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was just as beautiful as the others; however, it was forbidden, for God warned them, “If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (v. 17). 

Although everything God created was good and is good, not everything was designed for human consumption. To understand this better, reread Genesis 3:1–6, the ancient conversation that changed the course of history—the conversation that tickled Eve’s ears and made her heart yearn for more.

Good was no longer good, because Satan, disguised as a serpent, convinced the woman that what the good God had provided wasn’t good enough. Yes, he lied and twisted God’s words, but his argument compelled Eve to partake of the forbidden. His words led Eve to believe that she wasn’t

• Wise enough—he told her she could be wiser yet; 

• Fulfilled enough—he offered something that seemed more fulfilling; 

• Loved enough—because God didn’t grant her access to everything; and 

• Strong enough—because God had more power than she did. 

Oh, friend, the forbidden is always beautiful, and it will lead us to looking for more by convincing us that we don’t have enough. Sin came into this world through one man (Romans 5:12), and we’ve been fighting the pull ever since. Eve accepted counsel from someone who wasn’t an expert on her life. And without realizing it, we have been following Eve’s example ever since.

All the world’s undesirable situations can be traced back to the day when good went bad and she listened to bad counsel. Sin, the knowledge of good and evil, and the desire to have godlike wisdom were all introduced to the world. This event allowed Satan to cross the threshold of every heart. His ways worked then, and they work now. For centuries Satan has been convincing us, just like he convinced Eve, that we need more.