Walking With Christ

Genesis 2:8-9 (8)And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. (9)And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.(ESV)

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.(ESV)

Numbers 14:1-2 (1)Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. (2)And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!'(ESV)

Matthew 13:18-22 (18)“Hear then the parable of the sower: (19)When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. (20)As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (21)yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (22)As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.(ESV)

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!(ESV)

2 Peter 1:3-4 (3)His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (4)by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.(ESV)

In the garden we find a place where there is no bad weather, no disease, no worry of drought, food is plentiful, and there is no need for shelter beyond what is provided by the trees growing there. Still, Adam and Eve wanted more.
In the wilderness, God provided the children of Israel with food, water, and even protection from all things in the wilderness. Still, the Israelites wanted to return to Egypt. They wanted to go back to what they knew.
The sower didn’t throw different seeds into each type of soil.
Jesus offered spiritual refuge to Jerusalem.
Peter expressly says that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life through the relationship with Him.

There are many more examples where the environment was perfect. The promises were complete and iron clad. God can give us the perfect environment, and we will still refuse to thrive. The parable of the sower may illustrate this best in that some soil, our hearts being the soil, would not or could not thrive despite receiving the exact same seeds, God’s word, as every other type of soil. Hardness of heart is the quickest way to diminish the promises and plans that God has for us. Being stubborn and refusing the change or accept simple truths that may ask us to alter our perspective or even ask us to leave our comfort zone is all it takes for us to reject the blessings that God has in store.