Wages of sin is death Cofty.
But, the gift God gives is everlasting life. That's the way the universe is set up..... all based on choice.
Eve had a choice. She was told beforehand the price. Essentially, she chose to not believe God is what really happened. Her real problem was lack of belief of the consequences, while at the same time believing that he was withholding something good. Both, false beliefs as the last several thousand years has borne out.
Belief is what moves the hand of God, and triggers blessings. It gets results when done through the office of Christ alone. Sometimes God takes something from us, sometimes he gives gifts. All based on trust. I was a fool to put my trust in men.
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man"
After I did that with the WT, I did little better trusting in my own devices.
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool"
God honors our choices. That was perhaps the hardest lesson I had to learn. The whole free moral agency system of governance is set up on choice. We can do one of three things in life, and get one of three results.
1. We can put our trust in others. If we do, then they are responsible for the results.
2. We can put our trust in ourselves. Then, we are responsible for the results.
3. We can put our trust in Christ alone, then God is responsible for the results.
I am 53. I have spent a considerable amount of time in each of those categories. My experience is that option three gets FAR more relatively immediate positive results, not to mention the eternal ones that go with inheriting the things that go along with being a member of God's family.
Out of everything I have learned so far in life, the role of belief is by far the most valuable fact I've discovered.
