By Elizabeth Tooley
When I think about freedom, I’m often drawn to thoughts of big blue skies, open and blooming fields, and deep breaths of fresh air. The scene I imagine is what the Garden of Eden must have been like: lush, fresh, and thriving with life. God created us to live in fullness and freedom; this is seen in how He provided for every need for Adam and Eve in the garden and gave them the freedom to have all the food and nourishment they wanted. He made one exception, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God was looking for Adam and Eve's obedience and trust. The kind of reliance and trust that comes from a strong relationship. We see in Genesis 3 that even after Adam and Eve sinned and partook of the fruit from the one forbidden tree, God still came looking for them.
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, 'Where are you?' He said, 'I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid myself.' God said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten [fruit] from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?'" Genesis 3:8-11 AMP
Even though Adam and Eve hid from God, He pursued them. And though sin created the bondage of shame that caused them to hide, we see in verse 21 that God still made provision for them to cover themselves to be free from shame. "The LORD God made tunics of [animal] skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them." – Genesis 3:21 AMP
Of course, we know that the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ has covered our shame and sin eternally, but in Genesis, we see God’s grace, even amid punishment, to cover Adam and Eve.
Freedom is not the absence of accountability but rather the result of our trust in the grace and provision of God. Just like the wide-open fields and blue skies that my mind pictures, so is the grace of God freely offered to his children.
“My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP
What are the areas that you hide from God; that are holding you back? In what ways do you need to activate your faith in God’s grace for you to receive your freedom?
I encourage you today to ask God to show you where you need to trust Him more and receive the freedom He has provisioned for you. I pray that as you uncover the hidden things that your relationship with your Father would flourish like a lush garden; and you would be free to be all He has created you to be!
