Stuck in the Middle

"The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."~Genesis 2:9


Last Sunday, I found myself sitting in the middle of the pew with people on each side of me. When it was time to leave, I realized that I would have to wait until either one side or the other was finished talking and ready to exit because I was somewhat stuck in the middle. Sitting in the middle of the pew, takes away some freedoms, but it reminds me that as Christians, we often find ourselves sitting in the middle having to wait, listen, and then choose how to proceed.


This morning on the news an area comptroller has been accused of stealing over 30 million dollars from the city that had entrusted her with distributing the city's funds to the appropriate recipients. She found herself in the middle. The funds came to her office, and then she was to proceed according to her job description, but something happened, and now the question remains, did she use her middle position to work toward good or evil?


When reading this well known passage in Genesis this morning, I am reminded that each day we find ourselves in the middle more often than not. Every decision we make leads us to the next moment of our lives. It may be as simple as stopping at a red light rather than running it. Maybe running that light won't have a consequence this time, but maybe next time, we could find ourselves responsible for injuring another person or worse yet, taking the life of another. Each time we decide how to respond to a friend in need, we are in the middle. We have the opportunity to change their lives by being Jesus in the world, or to remind them how painful it is to not have Jesus in their lives.


Adam and Eve weren't unique to coming to the middle of the garden. Those apples from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" are something we bite into each day. Jesus provides us the knowledge that we can rely on to help us make good choices each day that are pleasing to Him, but we sometimes fail. But remember, that "tree of life" in this passage? Perhaps, this "tree of life" mentioned so early in the Bible, is symbolic to the tree or the cross that Jesus hung on. It's where we go to remind us that when we fail using our own knowledge that we have somewhere to go for forgiveness. 


Life would be much easier if we could find a way out of the middle, but God has placed us right smack dab in the middle of this society. He is counting on us to look to that "tree of life" with every decision we make. Remembering and honoring that sacrifice on the cross each day of our lives will lead us to make better decisions. So whether, you're stuck in the middle of the pew, entrusted with great or small responsibilities, or reflecting the love of Jesus in your life with your thoughts, words, or deeds, remember that the "tree of life" is the place to turn for guidance.


Heavenly Father,
As we read this passage from Genesis, we thank you for the "tree of life." Help us each day to look to You for knowledge and cling to Your promises. Teach us that as we find ourselves in the middle, our direction away from the middle should always be toward You.
Amen