Free to Choose

“Free to Choose”
Kennard Friends Church
February 12, 2012

Today I want to tell a parable. A parable is a story to illustrate principles or lessons. This is a story I created. It came to me several weeks ago as I pondered (for the hundredth time) a very familiar story in the Bible. Let me tell you my parable. During the telling of it, you may likely figure out what Bible story it represents. I’ll call this the parable of the “Man and woman of Wal-Mart”.

The CEO of Wal-Mart prepared a place that was a brand new type of store. He had designed a new program as an experiment in human nature.
It was beyond super. It was Super-Duper!

The CEO hand- picks a couple to live in the store that is completely self-sufficient. This couple was recently married, no children, and currently employed at a Wal-Mart store.

Everything is provided; everything is free; everything is new each day (restocked overnight as they slept… yes there was even a furniture department with plenty of beds!)

The entire store and grounds outside was there’s to enjoy.

Only one tiny office in the Customer Service dept was off limits; entering was grounds for immediate dismissal.

Time goes by and the man and woman enjoy fresh food, variety of food, new clothes, shoes, underwear. They watch HDTVs a dozen at a time. Play Rummy with a new deck of cards each game. Use the electric shopping carts to get around. It they ever got a headache, they just went to the health and beauty aisle and picked up whatever they needed. The deli was always full of fresh hot and cold goodies! They would pick up a brand new towel, new bar of soap, and full bottle of shampoo on their way to the shower every day.

Remember, only one tiny office in the Customer Service dept was off limits.
Eventually the couple wonders what might be in that office behind the door. What were they missing? What was the owner holding back from them? Even though they had everything they needed, and more, they kept thinking about the door. One day they are caught just as they opened the door and were ready to turn on the light switch to see what was in the room.

The CEO actually caught them. Sadly for him too, he had to dismiss them from his special store and their amazing situation; the store was locked up and no one else was allowed to ever enter again.
The man and woman were back to having to go to the regular Super Walmart. But now they had to work to have money to spend. The CEO gave them both jobs at another Walmart store. He paid them minimum wage. The government took a large portion out in taxes. The company took out more money to pay for health and pension benefits. Their small paycheck was even smaller after all the deductions. They did not even receive an employee discount for the store. All the stuff they had previously picked up for free any time, now cost money. Sometimes this store was out of what they needed so they had to do without.

Why would they ever choose to risk losing their situation over what may or may not have been behind the door? Are you also curious what was behind that door?

From the first time I remember hearing the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, I could not help but wonder why they ever ate from the one tree that was off limits. When the garden was so full of so much good stuff why go to the one tree (“Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”) that was off-limits. Why risk disobeying God?

Read in Genesis (1:28-31) (2:8-11 & 15-17) (3:16-19 & 23)

Actual Bible descriptions:
• God planted the garden
• Seed-bearing plants for food (such as apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, juniper berries, pomegranates and bananas) (Also food that botanically can be considered “fruit” such as bean pods, corn kernels, wheat grains, tomatoes, and many more)
• All sort of beautiful trees with delicious fruit for food
• Grasses and other green plants for the animals food (plus it was also pleasing to the eyes)
• A land where exceptionally pure gold is found
• A land of aromatic resin
• A land where onyx is found
• Wandering rivers
• No rain (so no grey skies)
• Must have been a tropical climate (since they wore no clothes)
• Animals of every kind roamed in peace with each other and with man
• God walked in the garden with them

Other research suggests:
• The word “garden” in Hebrew is a synonym to the word “paradise”
• The word Eden literally means, "delight"
• This garden was full of color, a beautiful array of flowering colors, pleasing to the sight. The aroma was surely one of sweetness, and the food brought healing to Adam and Eve's mortal bodies. It was pure paradise.
• Abundant fertility and luxuriant vegetation (Can you imagine how good this first food was? Maybe brussel sprouts were even delicious???)
• Incorporated fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables

Do you agree with me asking why would anyone in their right mind choose to eat from that one tree? Why would the couple at Wal-Mart open the one door? Why would anyone risk losing everything in a “perfect world”?
Well, the Garden of Eden has long been washed away by the flood in Noah’s day. The super duper Wal-Mart was only a made-up story and never existed.

But there is a choice you and I, and everyone in our community has to make. There is another “Garden of Eden” God has prepared. It is called Heaven. The Book of John 14:2 is where Jesus says he will go to prepare a place for His own. We are not there yet. But the Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us. That place is better than the Garden. It is better than any concept of a self-sustaining store. There are many books written that attempt to describe heaven. Unfortunately, while the Bible says several things about it, the descriptions of what it will look like are somewhat vague. Hebrews 8:5 reminds us that these earthly things serve as a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” As Paul Enns in his book Heaven Revealed writes, “We yearn and wait for the day when we will live in fellowship with God and with our redeemed loved ones in a perfect environment, in a heaven of indescribable beauty.” Also see Revelation 21:1-22:7.

And just as the word “garden” can be synonymous with paradise, so can the word heaven. Remember Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross… “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

However the choice needs to be made now. While we are alive on this earth we can make the decision. Some of you have already made that decision. Some of you may not have. You have been “window shopping” and looking around. So today is a good day to choose.

Because of Adam and Eve’s actions of disobeying God and rebellion, it caused a ripple effect that affects us today. That is, we are all condemned to living in a place called Hell. My best understanding is that when we reach a certain age that we can understand God, we automatically have a boarding pass to a destination that is a place of eternal separation from God. But the good news is that at that certain age of understanding, God begins to call on us to choose the other destination. The destination of being in His presence for all eternity.

Reach in your spiritual pocket or purse today and see what destination is on YOUR boarding pass. If it is Heaven then rejoice. If it is Hell then repent.

Today the alter up front or in your heart is where you can make that choice to repent, call on Jesus as your Savior, and be born again. You are free to choose!