For any relationship to be real, there must be a choice. God has created man with free choice. God did not force Adam into a one way, ‘You have to do what I say’ relationship, but rather gave Adam the free choice to obey Him and love Him back. To demonstrate man’s choice to love God, God placed two trees in the Garden of Eden. The only request that God had was that they did not eat of the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil but they could enjoy every other tree.

Obedience to God is a demonstration of our love towards him. I obey because I know the person who I am listening to has my best interests at heart. Therefore, I obey out of love and not fear. Who I love and obey I will follow.

“But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father

gave Me commandment, so I do” (John 14:31 NKJV).

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as

obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are

slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to

righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 NIV).

Unfortunately, Adam and Eve made some wrong choices and chose to obey and follow the enemy’s voice. This decision caused a separation in their relationship with God. It also created tension in their relationship with one another as Adam began to blame Eve for the problems they found themselves in. The fruit of this one poor decision was the shame, guilt and isolation from the one who loved them most.

Adam and Eve’s bad choices did not stop God in the pursuit of His relationship towards them. With loving-kindness, God keeps drawing us back to himself, and He never stops pursuing us even if we resist Him and try ‘hide from Him.

Psalms 139:7-12 NKJV says:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”