overeating...

Oh how wondrous are the holidays! Time spent enjoying the gifts we have been given and the special present of one another presence. It is a time of stress, but one of joy and memories too. Often when it comes to the table, it can be one of over indulgence and that is a particular brand that I am familiar with. When those mashed potatoes are just sitting there waiting to be draped in delicious gravy and paired with the tender cuts of turkey, it just calls out for a second helping! Mmmmmm...

The garden.

Adam had received instructions from the One who walks amongst men. He told Adam that every tree of the garden was edible, but one, and that was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he were to indulge of that tree on any given day, he would know and taste of what is death (Genesis 2: 16-17 KJV). Though the warning was given, nay, the command, it did not stop the breaking of the first rule of man. You can find that in Genesis 3.

Knowledge of good and evil is now common place. It became the core of intellectualism and a thing of pride. People crave knowledge and degrees. They aspire to achieve things and have a launching point that is a bit higher than the ground floor. (Not shaming, education is needed.) Daniel said that in the end times knowledge would increase (Daniel 12: 4 KJV). And you know what? In our world today, it has. We can find knowledge sitting on a tweet, facebook page, a swirl of websites, TV, blogs, and radio. It has swamped us to a point that we can find it difficult to turn off or away from.

Popping with data from all things our receptors receive, the brain is constantly formulating what to keep, where to store it, and how to retrieve it. Knowledge often gets lost in the swampy file cabinets of our minds. It has value but can be lacking if it is left on its own. Knowledge itself needs to be understood. For Solomon contended that “understanding is a well spring of life (Proverbs 16: 22 KJV).” Its being able to apply that knowledge and then you become successful.

But as with overeating a turkey dinner, you too can overeat on things that are not good for you. Feasting now-a-days becomes a lifestyle of information. We garner facts and stats from: sports, music, news, entertainment, and hobbies. Our smartphones cater to the madness and it doesn’t stop pushing the updates. Yet for our sake we need to hit a pause button.

The knowledge of good and evil interrupted the peace and tranquility of Adam’s garden and it hasn’t stopped since. In Proverbs, Solomon tells us where knowledge begins and that is fear of the Lord (1: 7 KJV). To begin to be wise, we must set aside time with Him! Return to fields of the garden. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Tell Him your deepest desires. Read to Him. Sing to Him. Be with Him... and that Him is Jesus!

Godspeed, The JourneyMan

Ps. Today’s episodic story comes from the abundance of things and a call to return to the simplest of things this special time of the year. Merry Christmas all!

Genesis 2: 9 KJV “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Genesis 2: 16-17 KJV “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the konwledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Proverbs 1: 7 KJV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 2: 3-5 KJV “ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 16: 22 KJV “Understanding is a well spring of life unto him that hath it...”

Daniel 12: 4 KJV “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”