Suffering: Failure, Like Adam & Eve

Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:1-6 (NASB)

In the history of the human race, nobody failed worse than Adam and Eve. Compared to now, their sin seems trivial. How could one bad bite harm generations?

  • If one loose rock can cause an avalanche,

  • If one bad apple can spoil a barrel,

  • If one evil man can start World War II,

  • If one “dance with drugs” can cripple a life,

  • Then, one mind in agreement with Satan…

  • Can begin a catastrophic downfall, where bright futures seem irretrievable.

But God reveals success beyond failure. This promise permeates Heaven and Earth– for those who persevere and do not quit.

Consider a handful of examples:

  • Both Jim Carrey and Jerry Seinfeld were booed off early stages.

  • Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

  • Oprah's first producer fired her and called her 'unfit for television.'

  • Harrison Ford was told he 'didn't have what it takes to be a star.'

  • Before Microsoft, Bill Gates failed in his first startup business.

  • Henry Ford declared bankruptcy twice.

  • Thomas Edison was fired from his first two jobs, hearing the words: 'you're too stupid to learn anything.'

  • Walt Disney was fired by an editor who said he 'lacked imagination.'

  • R.H. Macy endured 7 failed businesses before opening Macy's.

  • Winston Churchill struggled in school and failed the 6th grade.

  • Stephen Spielberg was rejected 3 times from UCLA's theatre program.

  • The manager of the Grand Ole Opry told Elvis he should 'go back to driving trucks.' *

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

If Adam and Eve's bad bite brought failure, success would return through their 3rd son, Seth.** Because God’s first couple refused to quit, and our Almighty Father never quits!

His beloved Son, Jesus, SEEMED to fail (in a grueling public execution)... but victory was just three days away! His brother, James, put this truth in writing:

'Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him' (James 1:12). 

In this truth, the world agrees with the Lord.

Suffering: Failure, Like Adam & Eve (Part 5)

* Fun article: 29 famous people who failed before they succeeded

** Short article: The Holy Bloodline of Seth, The Holy Bloodline of Seth ~ The Genealogy of Jesus

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban