The struggle between right and wrong is an integral part of the human experience, and examination of the Bible shows that God initiates, and often participates in contests (i.e., trials, tests, and challenges) that cause this struggle. In some cases, a person may decide to do the right thing. At other times, people make willful decisions to do wrong. These decisions often have far-reaching consequences. This chapter takes an in-depth look at the first contest recorded in the Bible. To say that the outcome of this contest has far-reaching consequences would be an understatement. We learn from the book of Genesis that the stage was set by God Himself for the contest between Satan and Eve. God placed the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” in the Garden of Eden. The Lord God commanded Adam, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience]” (Gen 2:16-17). At face value, it would seem that this rule was initiated to fulfill God’s desire to test Adam and Eve’s loyalty and commitment to Him. Let’s take a close look at this first contest established by God and see if we can discover additional reasons that God may have had for this contest.

The First Contest

            After creating Adam and placing him in Eden to tend the garden, God initiated the first test in human history. As mentioned above, He placed a certain tree in the Garden of Eden and told Adam to never eat the fruit of that one specific tree (Gen 2:16-17). There were many other plants available for food, and the Eden environment offered a very pleasant lifestyle. Honoring God as the supreme commander of all, and obedience to God’s commands were the prime directives. This sets the rules of engagement for all future contests—obedience is equivalent to love for the Lord. Adam and Eve had direct access to God and were given the opportunity to have a meaningful relationship with God. Unfortunately, they broke the rule, failed the first test (the fall of humankind), and were driven out of the Garden of Eden. At the moment of disobedience to God’s command, sin and death entered the world and the very nature of man was transformed into a Depraved State of being. In the Depraved State, all of humankind from that day forward were born morally corrupt and wicked. In addition, every infant is born in a spiritually blind condition along with the corrupted nature (Original Sin) that is geared toward sin.     The struggle between right and wrong is an integral part of the human experience, and examination of the Bible shows that God initiates, and often participates in contests (i.e., trials, tests, and challenges) that cause this struggle. In some cases, a person may decide to do the right thing. At other times, people make willful decisions to do wrong. These decisions often have far-reaching consequences. This chapter takes an in-depth look at the first contest recorded in the Bible. To say that the outcome of this contest has far-reaching consequences would be an understatement. We learn from the book of Genesis that the stage was set by God Himself for the contest between Satan and Eve. God placed the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” in the Garden of Eden. The Lord God commanded Adam, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience]” (Gen 2:16-17). At face value, it would seem that this rule was initiated to fulfill God’s desire to test Adam and Eve’s loyalty and commitment to Him. Let’s take a close look at this first contest established by God and see if we can discover additional reasons that God may have had for this contest.

The First Contest

            After creating Adam and placing him in Eden to tend the garden, God initiated the first test in human history. As mentioned above, He placed a certain tree in the Garden of Eden and told Adam to never eat the fruit of that one specific tree (Gen 2:16-17). There were many other plants available for food, and the Eden environment offered a very pleasant lifestyle. Honoring God as the supreme commander of all, and obedience to God’s commands were the prime directives. This sets the rules of engagement for all future contests—obedience is equivalent to love for the Lord. Adam and Eve had direct access to God and were given the opportunity to have a meaningful relationship with God. Unfortunately, they broke the rule, failed the first test (the fall of humankind), and were driven out of the Garden of Eden. At the moment of disobedience to God’s command, sin and death entered the world and the very nature of man was transformed into a Depraved State of being. In the Depraved State, all of humankind from that day forward were born morally corrupt and wicked. In addition, every infant is born in a spiritually blind condition along with the corrupted nature (Original Sin) that is geared toward sin.