Did Eve and Adam eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Evil? I don't think so. There's the knowledge of both GOOD and EVIL in the fruit. I've seen happy poor people and miserable well-off people. Which one is experiencing GOOD and which one EVIL?
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Did Paul know only how to to be abased, hungry, and suffering?
I recognize that this life is an experience of evil WHEREBY to humble us. But the same book talks about a good life...it just may be that having it ALL good doesn't play the same role in humbling us.
2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Did Paul have the thorn without the revelations? Did he only have weakness and no 'strength being made perfect'? Did he take NO PLEASURE in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses? Was he only weak and never strong? Did he never rejoice, or always?
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isa 26:10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
Are God's judgments only evil/unfavourable? Are they evil/unfavourable at all?
Can favour be shown to the just, and he will deal justly?
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
I know we have just an earnest/down-payment of the Spirit. But if we don't have so much as a little of all that, then we don't have so much as a little of His Spirit. Abounding or abased, this is the character that God is or will be creating in us. I just want to get onboard and yoked up.
Just me talking, but when I first came to B-T, it was a REBIRTH of optimism and faith from despair and cynicism. My first thought on believing the Salvation of all wasn't "Thank God all these pesky other people are going to be brought up to my level." Instead it was, "Thank God. That means I'm going to be saved too." That faith and optimism has waxed and waned over the years since, and been tried many times. (Truth be told, a fair number of those trials have occurred right here on ye olde BT Forum. Sometimes its been wisdom, and sometimes not.) I just want to be right on the inside, no matter what the outside circumstance may be. Man, even the world envies that.