“But there is one tree we must not eat from. God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch that tree, or you will die.’”

Isn’t it interesting to ponder why God allowed Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? A more thought-provoking question might be: Why was it created in the first place? To answer this question, I will provide a simple, clear analogy. One important concept to remember is FREE WILL.

Imagine that a person who loves you dearly sends you to a beautiful mansion, the mansion is fully furnished, complete with an endless supply of everything you need, everything you can imagine, and everything you desire. You admire its beauty, but suddenly you discover the mansion has no door. There is no exit, and there is no way for you to leave. Would you enjoy living in a house that has no door?

If someone who truly loves you puts you in that house, that person will create a door that allows you to choose whether to stay or leave. Because if a house doesn’t have a door, what does it become? Exactly… a cage. God wants us to have our freedom, not to feel confined like pets in a cage. He lovingly desires for us to become His beloved sons and daughters.

Now the choice is ours: stay in His presence or go out and live on our own.

When we remain in His presence, what can we expect? According to Psalm 16:11, we will experience fullness of joy. Psalm 23:4 assures us that all fear will fade away. Exodus 33:14 promises us a suitable rest. Finally, Zephaniah 3:17 reminds us that we will experience God’s love.

If we choose to turn away from God’s presence, several consequences will follow. First, we will face suffering and punishment, leading to eternal destruction as stated in 2 Thessalonians 1:9. We will perish, as mentioned in Psalm 73:27. Additionally, we will be in danger according to 2 Peter 2:20. Lastly, we will be lost like sheep without a shepherd, as described in Isaiah 53:6.

When the facts are clearly laid out in front of us by the Bible, the choice we should make seems obvious. But for Adam and Eve and for us, the pull of pride is powerful. At the end of the day, the decision is yours. God will not make choices for you; otherwise, you would become a prisoner, confined like a pet in a cage, and God desires more for you.

Why is there a forbidden fruit in the garden? It’s a door—God provided us a home, not a cage.

Romi Barcena, Bible League International staff, Manilla, Philippines