Sin possible in Paradise?
October 14th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Shalom Beloveds of the Lord. This week I came across a very interesting question, which was posted on facebook by an author I am deeply fond of, Ted Dekker. Here is what he posted:
I wondered recently if humans will have free will forever or if we will one day be turned into robots without a genuine impulse to choose between good and evil. Without a true choice there is no true love, because loving is choosing, right? So if humanity takes its free will into paradise, will someone not chose evil again? Y or N? Think before you answer. Be heard.
I must say this is a very deep, and thought provoking question to ask. Even controversial, and debatable. But in my own words and heart, here is my perspective.
I’d have to turn to (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) the point of our transformation, also look at (Galatians 5:16-17).
First, lets see that our Spirit and Flesh are constantly at war. Our “flesh”, the broken sinful man, has some sense or desire,of evil, sin, and death. But our Spirit, the “us” made in the image of God desires righteousness, purity, truth and life. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live by the spirit, as He guides us to all truth.
“16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” -Galatians 5:16-17
Capture this: Flesh and Spirit at war. Flesh is sinful desire, and Spirit is one with God.
Next, we would need understand the need for transformation. We are at war, we desire to kill the flesh and live in the spirit, and yet this is such a difficult task for us. We are so-called Christians who truly desire to live free and in love with God, still we fall and give in to our fleshly desires daily. If we stand yet again, persist and persevere in the fight, in this war, then on that day of His glorious return, we will be TRANSFORMED.
“51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” -1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Capture this: We are in a war, Flesh against Spirit. In transformation, the flesh is stripped away, destroyed. Old desires, habits, thoughts, evil, Sin goes along with it… and the only thing left is Spirit (Gods very image and likeness). Truth, Love of God, Faithfulness, Perfection. Pure.
So, this is my take on all this. Entering Paradise would’ve meant you have been transformed. Being transformed would mean you live in the spirit having been freed from flesh. Freedom from flesh, otherwise known as sinful nature, would mean you were saved. Which would lastly mean you made your ULTIMATE choice, the choice to follow Christ and die to sin. Free-will no longer would matter, or even exist. Will we be forbidden to eat from a tree of knowledge of good and evil? No, we will be fully free, and we will not need to choose anything but Love. So, love would be all we know and have. Choice, would have no validity of meaning, because the ultimate choice would have been made, to be washed by the blood of the lamb.
There will be no evil in paradise, nor and option of evil… only His faithful beloved children and lovers will be present… and this, for all eternity…
(I pray you are all blessed by my post, here is my heart and simply perspective, May yours also be heard!)
Live Loud. Live Free.
Let your voice be heard!
