When You’re Evicted By GOD
The rhythm of drums echoes through the air. Uniformed soldiers march in front of a company of soldiers standing at attention. The marching soldiers stop, as one soldier now stands alone with approximately 100 soldiers facing him. The man is stripped of his rank. First, his hat is removed from his head and tossed to the ground. Next, the rank patches are ripped from his shoulders pads, first the right, and then the left. His uniform buttons are the next to go, leaving the man’s exposed shirt underneath the military jacket. To add insult to injury, the man’s sword is taken and broken in two. The tip of the sword falls to his feet, while the pommel ( handle) is thrown outside the gates of the military fort. The man walks alone outside the gate, and stands over the broken half of the sword, as the fort gate is slammed behind him.
If this story sounds familiar, this is from the TV show “Branded”, starring Chuck Conner. If you remember this TV show, you’re telling your age. As for me, I only watched it on reruns.
As I write this, thousands of families are faced with an eviction crisis. As eviction looms for many, I listen to various television pundits debate which side is right; the landlords or tenants. After listening to the back and forward for several minutes, my mind began to wonder. I wondered who was the first person to ever be evicted?
As I thought about it for a while, I remembered the story in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve were told not to eat from the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. However, instead of obeying God, Eve listened to the crafty serpent and ate the fruit. Then, she gave the fruit to Adam and he ate it also. Immediately, they noticed a change. Fear!
As the details of the story raced through my mind of the first eviction in history, I was quickly reminded that my thoughts were incorrect. Remember the serpent that beguiled Eve? Well, we have to recall his story as well.
Jesus sent 70 of his faithful followers out to heal the sick, and they returned with joy and said,” Lord even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.” (Luke 3:17-18). Jesus was describing the eviction of Satan from heaven. He was thrown out of heaven so fast that he looked like lightning crossing the sky. Satan didn’t get 30 days to grab his belongings, he was evicted and sent straight to Earth.
What do you do when God evicts you?
Roaming around the Earth, Satan knows that his judgment and fate are determined. He is like a convicted convict that is waiting to report to prison. Satan doesn’t have a chance for redemption. His former boss, landlord, and judge have exiled him on this planet.
Do you think he was angry with God?
Absolutely!
GOD then placed man on the Earth. Man (Mankind) looks, acts, and carries themselves like God. Since Satan is jealous, and misery loves company, he realizes that the only way to lash out at God is through his creation. So he looks for an opening, waits for the right moment, and slivers in.
Let’s fast forward a bit. It’s now eviction day for Adam and Eve. I’m sure God would have allowed them to stay in the garden, but for one thing; the Tree of Life. If they had eaten from the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever, and they would have been just like Satan. As I think of their eviction, I imagine it like the “Branded” TV show. The slow walk. The sad faces. The angel with a sword prevents them from ever stepping foot in the garden again. They lost their home and had to start over again.
Where will they go?
What will they do?
Will this story have a happy ending?
To be continued…. Stay tuned!!!!
G. Edward Wyche