THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL (PART 3)
" ... strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." - Heb 5:14, (KJV).
Adam was originally created by God to be innocent, that's to say, he was without the capacity to know good or evil; he had no sense of right or wrong, no power to differentiate between the two! In actual fact, he was created as an undeveloped man. Adam was, in other words, created morally neutral -- neither sinful nor holy, but innocent, and God put those two trees there so that he might exercise free choice. Unfortunately, he chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a free moral agent that God created him to be, he could have chosen the tree of Life. But he didn't! Worst still, his choice of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was with the complicity of God's arch-enemy, satan the devil. At best, this was rebellious, sinful and contrary to God's original plan for man.
Again, let me point out that the knowledge of good and evil, though forbidden to Adam, is not wrong in itself. It has its benefits. It's just that at that time, God forbade Adam from possessing it. No doubt, without it Adam becomes limited in that he cannot decide for himself on moral issues. Without the knowledge of good and evil in Adam's life, the judgment of right and wrong resides squarely in God and not in Adam. When faced with the need to discern between what is good from what is evil, Adam's course is to refer it to God. Thus you have a life in the garden which is totally dependent on God.
This was the life God had in mind for Adam and in fulfillment thereof, He commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evi; the violation of which, would bring him death (Gen 2:16-17). After Adam had in disobedience eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God remarked saying: "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" - Genesis 3:22 (KJV). I had said somewhere else that from here, it seems deducible that it was God's prerogative only to be endued with the knowledge of good and evil and that He never wanted man to possess it, at least at that natural, unregenerate and immature state. In God's mind, there was only one way for man to possess and exercise the knowledge of good and evil. It is to be in consequence of spiritual maturity borne out a relationship with the Word of righteousness, through Christ Jesus.
In Heb 5:13-14, we have it expressed thus: "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
Let me break this down a little bit! In consequence of the fall, man had become soulish or sense ruled. His spirit was now dead and couldn't relate with God anymore. His soul had taken prominence over his spirit. This was a complete reversal of God's order of man's composition. God had intended man's spirit to govern his soul and body
But here is a big issue! God is not casting away altogether the soul (senses), because if properly harnessed, it has its tremendous benefits to man in his relationship with God. God would rather have it "exercised to discern both good and evil". He prefers to have it guided, submitted, subjected to God's Word. Why? Because as long as man remains here on earth, he has his senses with him, but now God wants them "exercised", "in the Word of righteousness" (Heb 5:13). He wants them properly guided by His Word to His glory.
"Strong meat" in Heb 5:14 refers to the knowledge of God's mysteries and God's revealed truths through His Word, which can only be borne out of deliberate attention to the Word, with growth as its objective, leading to spiritual maturity. These matured ones are them that have submitted to God's sovereignty over them, have become subjected to and guided by His Word. They have, like Jesus, become truly one with God the Father (Jn 10:30). This is secured only through the "new birth" offered in Christ, represented by the Tree of Life in the garden of Eden. Only at this stage, where God’s children are skillful in the Word of righteousness and have become matured by reason of its use, would God permit them to have their "senses exercised" to "discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:13-14) Why? Because they are now under God's guidance through the Word and are become matured at that.
Toward this end has God ordained the five fold ministries, to bring the saints to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16). The entire scenario could have been different had Adam chosen to eat of the Tree of Life. That is another food for thought altogether. So, it would appear to me that God had all along desired that man would have the capacity to "discern both good and evil"; but not independent of Him, neither in rebellion or disobedience as Adam did, but only in accordance to His Order and Will.
PRAYER:
Dearest Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I strive for spiritual maturity through the Word, to the end that by reason of use I have my senses exercised to discern both good and evil.