Innocence

Genesis 3:22, "And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 

"A group of sex education 'experts' has suggested that pupils should be taught in school about pornography, on the grounds that it is not “all bad” and can even be “helpful” to them.

Yes, you read that right.

The Sex Education Forum says in a new publication for 
schools that pornography should be taught in terms of 
'media literacy and representation, gender, sexual behavior 
and body image.'” [from the Philadelphia Trumpet - which I do not subscribe to theologically (Armstrongism) but who have some pretty sharp European culture watchers.] 

By the way this is to be taught to 13 and 14 year old young people.

What stupidity. 

My dad and I were in a paint store one day and one of the store employees heard that I had never been to a bar and had a good

"drink." He proceeded to playfully harass me until the Lord gave me a good lead into the conversation.

I said to the gentlemen, "Have you ever put your hand down a known rattlesnake hole?"

He said, "No...why in the world would I want to do something stupid like that?" 

"Nor have I," I replied. 

"I don't have to try something that I know is going to bite me in the end." 

The point was made with a smile. 

Where has our sense of innocence gone? 

In discussing this passage in Genesis with a brother in Christ he told me that he never really knew that anyone died until he was almost 9 years of age. 

I long for those days of blissful ignorance. 

Think about what it must have been like to be Adam and Eve: Living in Paradise, walking with God in the cool of the evenings, having your hands always produce the best yield, complete harmony with your world. You have no knowledge of evil or wicked things. 

It was how God created you to be. 

You have no knowledge of the destructive nature of pornography or war or famine or disease. You have no knowledge of what inhumanities man can do to humanity. 

It continues to be a lingering prayer and biblical hope for all things to be restored to their original innocence. 

I believe that is the blessing of the book of Revelation. Some day...some day soon, I hope...my Jesus will come and fully restore all things to the Father as they were in Paradise so many years ago. When John describes living with God he says that this is a place where there is no tears, no sadness, no death. This is a place of restored innocence. It's why its called "Heaven." 

I think we are in store for a world described aptly by the prophet Isaiah - where people call good evil and evil good. We have lost our moral boundaries but...more than that, we have lost our moral compass. Our world has acquired what the Apostle Paul deemed "seared consciences" and "gods of their bellies." It represents stupid decisions by school boards to allow such things. 

Yes...I know that some kids are having sex before they are 12 years old. It's the same old mantra of "they're going to do it anyway so we might as well keep them safe or teach them appropriately." 

How about saying, "It's wrong. It's not what God wants for you. Don't give up what God has graciously given you by way of your innocence." 

I'm not talking about naivete. Naivete will not help you navigate your world but you don't have to participate in it. 

Don't lose hope. It must get worse before it gets better or should I say, "It must get worse before it becomes perfect." 

Perhaps the Lord will grant us a little returned innocence in the meantime, if only in our minds. 

Live in hope and keep your hands away from known rattlesnake holes.