For decades people have associated the apple with Adam and Eve, the first people on earth and the sin that caused all of us to live in a sinful, fallen world. Though there is no real description of the forbidden fruit and I am not sure how the apple got such a raw deal as becoming “the poster” for the first sin, but it did. Most movies, pictures and story books put an apple in Eve’s hands.
I am not sure the origin of New York City’s nick name, The Big Apple, but I could help but think of the apple, sin and the garden, when seeing The BIG Apple mentioned on the streets of NY City and on memorabilia and keepsakes. After spending three very full days in the city I am convinced there is a connection!
The biggest sin I saw in New York City was selfishness……isn’t that the same reason Eve reached for the forbidden apple? She wanted it, she took it, she ate it. Her yearning to satisfy her own desire over obedience to God was the root of the first sin.
The reason the NYC drivers honked, ran lights and drove crazy was selfishness…their desire to get where they wanted to be ruled over their desire to obey the laws of the city.
The reason there is an ocean of elaborate sky scrapers is their desire to build bigger, better, more expensive, fancier than anyone else………pride rules their hearts instead of humility and generosity.
The reason there were no visible signs of churches….is obvious there were no hearts desire to gather with the redeemed to celebrate New life is a low priority.
The reason people shoved in the Ferry line and crammed into over full subway cars is their selfish desires ruled over putting others first.
The reason people argued and yelled at each other is obvious…they want their “rights” that too is selfish…..
People were plagued by fear. You could see it on their faces….that too is selfishness. The opposite would be putting your trust in God to care for you. Or at the very least, one could say that a self centered life….hardens the heart toward others….a hard heart never smiles.
Perhaps the reason people didn’t smile…..is purely selfishness in not wanting to bless others with even the upturn of their lips. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and it very quickly drives selfishness away.
The people of NYC seemed driven by the lust and pleasure of this world to indulge their own flesh. I am burdened for these people…they need to know LOVE!
Love is to be the root of all our thoughts words and actions!
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father but from the world.
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
I John 2:15-17
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