First of all, what is paradise and why would we want to go back? In the Bible, paradise is described as a Garden called Eden. According to the description, it becomes clear that there is lots of nature with many trees, there is much to eat and that there are animals around. As we do not hear otherwise, it sounds like all live peacefully together. The Bible does not describe paradise in much detail but clearly it is a great place and a place of longing as when Adam and Eve misbehaved they were sent away from paradise to earth as a punishment. 

Why were Adam and Eve expelled? The Bible tells us that God who had created Adam and Eve and thus had shown them his omnipotence, had one commandment for them to adhere to: eat from all but one tree. They were able to stick to that until a snake, or Satan, came along…

Our options and freedom to choose

One can argue, if God is loving, why did God even create this “dangerous” tree? Why did God not remove it or build a fence around it? Of course, God could have done that but I think God wants humans to have free choice and take responsibility for their actions. God gives commandments to give direction on what is good and what is bad, and we have the choice. God does not hide anything from us, we have the full range of possibilities and we are free to decide. 

The snake approached Eve with a sheepishly question, twisting and questioning God’s words:

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1

Eve corrects that God had not said that, they were allowed to eat from all but one tree. Eve informs the snake that God had said that they will die if they eat from that tree. I think what follows is quite an important passage. The snake or Satan contradicts God’s words and puts himself with this statement above God the omnipotent creator. It further questions God’s good intentions and pretends to be more noble and helpful than God:

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:4-5

One could argue that the snake was somehow right as Adam and Eve did indeed not die right away after they ate from the tree. They however became mortal, which to my understanding in paradise they would not have been given that we read in the Bible that in paradise there was the tree of life available and thus eternal life. As they get expelled from paradise to planet earth, Adam and Eve, as every other human on earth, surely had to die. So God was right with his statement.

Coming back to the story – after the snake spoke, Eve saw that the tree would be good to eat, pleasant to the eye and that it is desirable to gain wisdom – to be like God. At this moment, Eve had choices. If we want to find the way back to paradise, it is important for us to be aware of those choices anytime we are tried. The key choices and options I see are:

  • A: Not eat from the tree and obey Gods commandments
  • B: Take time, wait for God, their friend, who was only good to them so far to come and ask him about what the snake had said, what the true reasons are they are not allowed to eat from the tree to be able make a more informed decision if they want to eat from the tree or not
  • C: Trust the snake and thus distrust Gods word as well as disobey Gods commandments.

As we know, Eve went for Option C. I think God wants that we consider all choices. He wants us to be critical human beings, search for dialog with him directly before trusting strangers. If we want to take informed decisions, I think option B would be best as it allows us to connect with God, ask him for his intentions and understand his reasoning and protectionism. Thus if you want to take good decisions or at least better than Eve, then turn to God before you act. You can do that at any point in time. As every human has a soul that is a little part of God, he is alive in you he is right with you anytime and you can think, talk or write to him, God hears you – turn to him and you will get answers in ways you have never imagined.

Act responsibly

Next to the freedom to decide among all options we have, God gave us our mind to understand and use it in order to act responsibly. As God questions Adam why he had eaten from the tree, he does not take responsibility, nor does Eve. Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the snake. As we read in the Bible, God does not accept those blames and  decides on consequences for all, the snake, Eve and Adam. With this God also marks his omnipotence and sovereignty. Thus if we want to get back to paradise, next to turning to our omnipotent, yet friendly God and making informed choices, it is important that we take full responsibility for our actions right from the beginning. 

God cares for Adam and Eve ever after they distrusted him as he clothes them but then he also sends them out of paradise in order for them not to live forever in the state that they are in. 

We humans live now off paradise, but God sent us Jesus to show us the way back. We learn from him that there is just one way to enter paradise and if there would be an easier and better one he would have shown it to us. In the Bible we read the following:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

Matthew 16:24-25

I understand that to deny ourselves, we have to fight back our ego and earthly desires. Under taking the cross upon us I understand that we have to accept circumstances that we cannot alter as well as accept and master sufferings and challenges that every person is having and remain cheerful and thankful to the Lord despite it all, just as Jesus did. This is not easy and no-one ever said it would be. Also in the Bible we read how difficult others think it is:

During Jesus’s time on earth a man came up and asked (Matthew 19:16-30):

“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

I think through this, Jesus shows what is most important to get back to paradise. We have to keep the commandments. Fullstop.

To be perfect and go via the straightest and the shortest way to paradise, we have to give up all earthly possessions and fully follow Jesus. As we read, also God is aware that perfection is difficult to achieve. Even if perfection is challenging, it is possible and for sure worth it to step by step move into the right direction and attempt to achieve it. I hope we see each other in paradise.

Love, Adi