sent from the presence of God...

Genesis 4: 16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

so Cain left the Lord's presence... his sin sent him from God's presence... you know... we can easily say that we would not do what would send us from the presence of God.. but are we sure ahead of time what would cause that to happen? we know it is always some sort of disobedience... look at Adam and Eve.. they walked and talked with God... and they sinned and disobeyed.. and they were sent from His garden... Saul was chosen as the first king.. then God rejected him...

1 Sam 15:22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 24 Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. 25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, he has rejected you as king of Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe. 28 And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. 29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”

so God has left Saul too... I think if we knew ahead of time.. the consequence we would make sure we wouldn't do it... or would we???? God often tells us specifically not to do something.. then we also have the written word of God.. yet we consistantly disobey.. which is rebellion... and you see that rebellion is counted as witchcraft... look how Saul begged God to forgive him... which He did.. but it changed their relationship forever... and while Saul stayed the king of Israel for the rest of his life, his children were unable to inherit it.. and Saul lived in torment...

what about us... look at how we sin.. over and over and God seems to forgive us and continue to walk with us.. but what is it that makes God change the relationship He had with you??

this is my opinion... I think God gives us many chances when our heart is not really His... when we are still really loving the world.. but when we really turn to Him... when we give Him our all... our whole heart.. then when we directly disobey a command given to us... then I feel it has the potential to change your relationship with Him... I think it happens to many of us... and I think we often don't ever get our relationship back.. we still have relationship with Him, but it is changed.. we are no longer in our 'garden of Eden'... we must now live on the outskirts of it...

I think we need to be far more cautious of what we allow to come between us and God.. because it could cost us more than we are really willing to pay... I don't want to lose my relationship with God.. yet I sometimes fear that I too have fallen and God will never be with me like He was in the past... I spend time daily reading and praying and meditating... yet God is not with me as He used to be... I would rather be alone with God than anywhere with anyone... I know I am forgiven... I know I still have relationship with Him.. but it is different... I pray for the "in love" relationship I used to have with God... with Him in love with me.. as I am still deeply, deeply in love with Him...