Based on Genesis chapter
How it all went wrong
God had finished His work of creation, He'd made the grass and trees, the birds and animals and the insects and fish. But most important of all, he'd made people, the first man Adam, and the first woman Eve.
Adam and Eve’s job was to look after the world that God had made. It was all so good and perfect, everyday God Himself would come and walk and talk with Adam and Eve in a garden that He'd planted for them - the Garden of Eden. And when they heard Him in the garden they’d run to be with Him. And they loved to be with God and talk with Him about all that they were doing. Everything was perfect, everything was just how it was supposed to be (P) but it wasn't going to last.
In the Garden of Eden, God had planted a tree, called 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'. And He told Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit from that tree they would - die!
It seemed strange to them, the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil' was fine to look at and it's fruit was as good as any other, and yet they were forbidden to even try it?
And anyway, what was - death? Adam and his wife couldn't really understand properly - because there was no death in the world. They just knew it wasn’t what God wanted and so - they left it alone. Anyway, there were plenty of other trees in the garden, apples and pears, bananas and oranges to name just a few - so it wasn't hard to leave the tree alone. If God had said not to touch it, He must have a good reason (P) they may not understand but they knew they could trust God. (PAUSE)
God had put that tree in the garden because He wanted to know if the man and the woman really loved Him. (P) If they obeyed Him by not eating the forbidden fruit then He would know that they did love Him. But, if they disobeyed Him and ate the fruit, then He'd know that He wasn't as important to them as He should be.
It was all so simple. Leave the fruit alone and all would be well. (P) But temptation often comes when you know something's wrong!
Now, into the Garden of Eden, where the man and the women were living and working, there came an enemy of God. And disguising himself as a snake, he hid by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, whose fruit Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat. The enemy of God hated God and wanted to destroy all the good works God had done. He wanted to spoil God’s perfect creation, and had planned just how to do it! (PAUSE)
God knew what the enemy wanted to do, but He didn't stop him being near the tree. He didn't even stop the enemy from talking to the man and woman, because He wanted the man and woman to love Him by choosing to obey His simple command and not eat the fruit - no matter what anybody said to them! (P) All heaven waited to see what the man and woman would do. (PAUSE)
One day, as they worked in the garden, Adam and Eve came near to the place where the enemy, disguised as a snake, was waiting. As the woman was nearest to it, the snake started talking to her.
'Hello,' he said.
'Hello,' she replied.
'This is a very beautiful garden you live in,' continued the snake.
'Thank you,' replied the woman, 'God planted it for us and asked us to look after it.'
Then the crafty snake asked a question that started to twist what God had said. 'Tell me, did God really say that you aren't allowed to eat any of the fruit in the garden?'
'Of course we can eat it,' replied the woman. Then she pointed to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 'It's only the fruit from that tree that we aren't allowed to eat. God said that we shouldn't eat it, or even touch it, or else we will - die!'
'You won't die,' lied the snake. 'God said you weren't allowed to eat that fruit because He knows that when you do you'll be able to understand everything and become as wise and as powerful as He is.'
'Ooh', said the woman. And as she looked up at the glistening fruit hanging temptingly on the tree, she saw how ripe it looked...
