Genesis 3:6+8 … she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.

I pushed the boundaries many times in my younger years. Tested how strong they were and then, yes, fell badly and realised they were not that strong. If you live too close to the edge and push against boundaries too much, they will break and you will fall – with catastrophic consequences.

I still remember a debate night in high school. My friends and I weren’t even in the hall. We wandered around looking for trouble. According to my friends, I let the air out of all four tyres, but I only remember deflating one tyre on the teacher’s car.

The next morning, I didn’t really want to go to school because I knew the target was on my back, and that everyone knew it was me who had done it. I was quaking in my pants as I drove through the school gates. And the first person I saw, standing arms at his sides? The school’s principal. I got my first six of the best even before the first school bell rang.

Wrong actions have consequences. Sin has consequences. Some punishment usually accompanies this; some big, some not so much.

Adam and Eve made a big mistake. They challenged the one limitation God placed upon them and suffered a severe fall. The consequences were catastrophic. Not just for them, because all of humanity had to take responsibility for it.

When they took that first bite of the lovely, fresh apple, they immediately realised that they had made a huge mistake. They realised that they were naked, and when God showed up, they quickly ran away and hid. They knew they were in big trouble. God was waiting for them like the head was waiting for me.

Sin in our lives messes up our relationship with God. It takes the “intimate” out of the relationship. Therefore, we must use all our strength to turn away from sin. We must put guards in place to make sure that we do not step into the same hole and fall again. Therefore, confess your wrongdoings and make sure that you do not test that boundary again.

Prayer
Father, I’m truly sorry that my actions often fail to align with Your will. On the contrary! I know this is ruining our relationship, and I’m responsible. That’s why I now come to lay them down before You one by one. Please forgive me, Lord!

Questions
What do you learn from Adam and Eve’s mistake about obeying God?
How does sin affect your relationship with God today?
What “boundaries” do you need to protect better?

Do this now
Think of one boundary in your life that you may be testing too closely. Decide today to draw a clear line and ask God to help you keep it.
Write down your “apple”. That one thing you know was wrong and confess it honestly to God in prayer.
Do something small, but right. Show by your actions today that you are learning from your mistakes.