Monthly Thought

Another perspective on issues in life

Reflect on the following:

The terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the multinational tech company, Apple, have been the subject of controversy. The T&Cs length, complexity, and potential to be used to entrench Apple's market power have led to serious criticism. Can we compare Apple’s T&Cs to the T&Cs God put in around the “apple” of the Garden of Eden?

Genesis chapter 1 describes God creating a beautiful world, and placing Adam in a garden of abundance with this one command “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 1:16-17).

Unlike Apple’s 20,000+ word T&Cs, God's terms were simple and clear. Just one rule. Clear consequences. No confusing legal jargon.

However Adam and Eve ignored this one T&C when they heard what they thought was a better deal: "You will not certainly die,” the serpent conjoled, “God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God." (Genesis 3:4-5).

And so Adam and Eve fell for humanity's first scam. They believed the one T&C God gave them was keeping them from something better. But they were wrong. And so are we whenever we ignore God’s word for our life.

Whereas breaching Apple’s T&Cs may cost us our privacy and our data (some very precious things in today’s world), ignoring God costs us our innocence, our relationship with God and eternal life with Him.

Here's the incredible news: while we were busy violating God's terms, He was working on the ultimate solution. Jesus Christ came as both the perfect human who never violated God's terms and the divine payment for our violation of those terms.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Jesus didn't just read the fine print—He IS the fine print. He's God's love letter written in flesh and blood.

Unlike Apple's T&Cs, accepting Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and salvation doesn’t put us at risk of exploitation. On the contrary, agreeing to God’s T&Cs opens us up to divine love, eternal life and the freedom of living life how it was meant to be lived. They are the best T&Cs you’ll ever tick yes to.

To accept them you can pray something like this:

Dear God, I admit I've broken your terms and conditions for life. I've sinned and I need your forgiveness. I believe Jesus died to pay for my sins and rose again. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Please be the Lord of my life. Amen.