Joyful Choosing

I was thinking the other day, in fact it was at our Acts bible study, that God loves us so much even the results of the fall (what we often consider punishments) is actually for our good, for our blessing.

Because of free will, the choice to be independent of God, we live in sin. Blessedly we do not live forever in this state. God, in his infinite wisdom and deep love, blessed us with conditions which cause us to be uncomfortable in this world. "Work by the sweat of your brow", "your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you", "Pain in childbirth".... All these contribute to our restlessness, our unease with our present condition. But we also have an inner longer for what we were created for - paradise, harmony in relationship with nature, each other and with God. We know that in our cores. And so we wonder and wander, searching for that Eden whilst living amongst the thorns and weeds and pains of this life. God gave us these results to keep us dissatisfied with this world - to continue yearning and looking forward to the paradise to come.

I suppose it's a matter of perspective. I could choose to look at the fall as punishment and become bitter, grumbling at my circumstances. OR...I could embrace the reality that I am made for perfection, I am made for that original creation and come my time to pass through this world, I will be there. I am living for that time, God is preparing me (sanctifying me) for that place. That is the perspective I choose because it fills me with hope, joy, peace, expectation and thankfulness that God loves me so much that he continues to abide in me, with me, molding me, friending me.

What do you think?