US columnist CAROL ROUND reflects on how the Creation story – that of Adam and Eve – is our story too…
Claremore, Oklahoma, US
A mosaic depicting the story of Adam and Eve in Krakow, Poland. PICTURE:wjarek/Shutterstock
“For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes”– Jeremiah 16:17 (ESV).
When I read the news story about an 11-year-old boy who staged a hoax to cover up his bad grades, I had to chuckle. According to police, the boy faked his kidnapping to avoid bringing home a bad report card. The boy told authorities that a man with a pistol snatched him after he left Ed White Middle School, forced him into a “beat-up car” and threatened to kill him.
“When we reflect on the Creation story and its meaning for us, we realise that, as my pastor says, it’s our story too. We have all passed the buck at one time or another. Either we don’t own up to the truth by fabricating an excuse or blame it on someone else. It’s much easier to do that than take responsibility. Eventually, however, we must pay the consequences of our choices.”
The youngster’s story continued with his escape by jumping out of the car. However, he said he couldn’t grab his backpack, which contained his report card. After running to his grandparents’ house, the boy later confessed to lying. His grandfather called the police to apologise.
Police were suspicious that the boy was able to “escape” with his band instrument, but not his backpack. The youngster has not been charged. However, I’m sure his parents or grandparents doled out the appropriate punishment for his creative “storytelling.”
Despite the humour in this situation, the story stuck with me for two reasons: the lengths to which some people will go to hide things and my own past attempts to hide things from others. As I thought about this young boy, I thought about a sermon my pastor delivered on honesty and passing the buck.
Recalling what happened in the Garden of Eden, we know when Adam and Eve were caught doing what God had expressly forbidden them to do, they hid from Him. Then, Eve passed the buck, blaming the serpent, and Adam blamed Eve for convincing him to eat the off-limits fruit.
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When we reflect on the Creation story and its meaning for us, we realise that, as my pastor says, it’s our story too. We have all passed the buck at one time or another. Either we don’t own up to the truth by fabricating an excuse or blame it on someone else. It’s much easier to do that than take responsibility. Eventually, however, we must pay the consequences of our choices.
I recall the times I tried to hide things from my parents. I was usually caught. Like most children, I wanted to avoid punishment. As my relationship with my heavenly Father has grown, I’ve learned you cannot hide anything from Him.
A simple, but profound, truth about Adam and Eve’s choice in the garden is something I’d never considered until my pastor’s sermon on the topic. Another lesson we can take away from this story, he says, is learning that we need God, and we must trust Him. How many times, though, do we take what we think is the easy way out, forgetting the future is in His hands?
That’s when we need to remember we’ve been saved by His amazing grace. Despite the poor choices we make sometimes, we can be assured of God’s love.
