Let's Make a Deal

     There was a television program called Let's Make a Deal. Monty Hall designed the deal. Each dealer had something of value given to him or her by the host which could be traded for what was behind three curtains or boxes. I hope that format sounds familiar!

     All that mankind has is given to us by God, even our very lives. We can trade what we have for that which is behind two curtains: the Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Monty's scenario, the dualism is greed verses contentment, or what is seen versus what cannot be seen. With mankind, the dualism is wisdom versus desire. Is mankind satisfied with what he has or what is promised? The two trees of Holy Scripture are indicative of those desires. The Tree of Life represents the Spirit and the Tree of Knowledge the flesh.

     Just as the "dealer" considers the two gifts, mankind must as well. There is truly only two choices: one with a transparent curtain and the other with an opaque one. If one chooses well, the gift is Paradise restored. With the other, the "reward" is Paradise lost! 

     Greed causes the dealer to choose what appears to be a better gift. Thus they give up what they have - life - for what they have not. In life, mankind most often keeps the flesh and denies the Spiritual. With greed they retain the flesh and deny the Spirit. That is blasphemy. 

     The choice we have, however, is not a game. It is indeed a gamble. If we decide wrongly, we lose the life we have and die eternally. If we choose rightly, then the greater gift is to live eternally! Wise people choose eternal life, and the foolish eternal death. Since they can't see through that "curtain" they select the unknown. Wise people have bright eyes and God offers them a glimpse of Heaven. It is the Paradise wherein Adam lived. He gave up the good prize for the unknown outside the gate. The exit from Paradise was his opaque "curtain". By choosing the world over God, he would die. However, unlike the dealer on the TV program, mankind gets more chances - seventy times seven! The transparent curtain is always there for the deciding. God calls it the door, and He constantly knocks on it. We need only answer the right door!

     The Abrahamic Covenant was such a deal. God promised prosperity in return for love. In His scenario, love could be exhibited by willingly obeying. If obedience was withheld, destruction ensued. As a bonus, God promised a Savior who mankind was to love. His Way was liberty and obedience was not necessary. However, obedience was the way man was to demonstrate true love!  In God's "Make a Deal" all they had to do was choose what was behind the right "curtain" and they would prosper. They could even see what was behind the curtain because God had given them many peeks! His dealers still chose the wrong curtain - the one whose contents Satan blinded them. This is what was behind the wrong curtain:

Isa 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

     The Hebrew people chose the wrong curtain. They were destroyed. God selected other "dealers". Gentiles were allowed on His program for the first time. They were more wise than the Jews. Many chose the right curtain. Whereas Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed when the wrong curtain was selected, many living temples were founded to build the Church. Those Gentiles who selected the right curtain made wise choices for the reward is great - eternal life. However, even among the Gentile dealers, most choose the wrong curtain. To make it an easier "game" to play, God's death on the cross tore down the curtain so that all had equal opportunity to win the reward.  Few win because few play!