Weekly Musing

A Contemplation:

In reading Genesis 3, a question arises. Will humanity see ourselves as God’s or gods? The answer impacts our lives on a daily basis.

Even though the two words sound the same, what a difference an apostrophe makes!

If it’s God's it is based in relationship, a belonging that speaks of deep intimacy, union, and love. In being united to and in God who is “I AM”, we are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4) a gift freely given to us by Christ. In Genesis 3, this is represented by the Tree of Life.

If it’s “gods” there is an implicit separation, unsustainable performance, unrealistic expectations, and striving to earn and become divine that leads to crushing death. This is the fruit of the separation lie (the Great Trauma, as I call it), which is a partialness and incompleteness, represented by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis 3.

Jesus chose to be hung on this tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, entering fully into our darkness, receiving, absorbing, and becoming the curse (Deuteronomy 21:23, Galatians 3:13-14). In doing so, He crushed and destroyed that (the separation lie — the Great Trauma) which sought to crush and destroy us (Genesis 3:15). Only one tree, the Tree of Life, exists in the Eternal Now (i.e., eternity) (Revelation 22:1-5).

So, how do you answer the question? We can live as “gods” or as God’s. One leads to a life that offers only what you can provide; the other, life more abundant - a life of belonging, intimacy, union and love.

Worth contemplating!