Why
Adam and Eve Died
We
all know the story of Adam and Eve and their fall in the Garden of Eden. God
forbade them to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” but they
were permitted to eat of everything else the Garden provided, including from the Tree of Life that was in the midst (center) of
the Garden (Gen. 2:9). You will often
hear pastors touch on this subject, as it truly is the beginning of disbelief in God’s very own Words. Many will add this
saying; “they died both physically and
'spiritually' once they ate of the fruit”… No
they didn’t. In fact this couldn’t be further from the truth.
This
event in human history is important to understand for Christians (and truly for all
people) as this is when and where the first lie
was foisted upon mankind. Satan, the
father of all lies, duped Eve and thus Adam by convincing them that God’s
Word, His very spoken Word, was not
true. And they fell for the con. Today
things are not much different in that the world, through false “science” (as
well as false doctrines), says that the very Word of God is not true; the
Bible is a collection of "religious myths" as the Earth is “billions” of years old and man
“evolved” from primates…
So truly, things have not changed in over six thousand years…
God
clearly told Adam that he will surely die once he ate of the forbidden
tree (Gen. 2:17), but he did not die immediately.
Adam and Eves' eyes were opened to knowledge of
good and evil, and due to their disbelief in God’s very Word, they were
kicked out of the garden that very same
day and kept from the Tree of Life. Thus mankind entered into the contract
with death.
And folks have been dying ever since. God’s Word vowing the death of Adam was
fulfilled when he finally died after nine hundred and thirty years of life.
He lived to be a ripe old man indeed chalking-up over a dozen lives that most
modern-day men might live. Adam was as healthy
as a horse, but because he was kicked
out of the Garden due to disbelief in God’s Word and thus denied access
to the Tree of Life, he eventually died
and returned to dust. It is quite clear that the Tree of Life was no
ordinary tree. Obviously it had paramount nutritional/medicinal qualities that no
other tree had. So Adam finally kicked the bucket, and his physical
death was thus due to malnourishment resulting
from the sin of not believing
God’s Word;
And
the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life,
and eat, and live forever: Therefore
the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from
whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3: 22-24
The
“spiritual” death, as proclaimed by many, is also a misconception conjured-up by man. Spirit means “breath”, or
“wind”. When God formed Adam from the dust of the Earth, he was as dead as a doornail until God breathed the “breath of life” into
his very nostrils and thus Adam became
a living soul, i.e. a breathing
creature (Gen 2:7). The Scriptures mention no such thing as this
“spiritual death” of Adam. It’s just not
there! Why many add this phrase is due
to a misunderstanding of the very word Spirit, or breath, and bodies simply do
not live without breath. In fact, you can live without a heart with the aid
of an artificial pump, but without breath
you’re a gonner! This is confirmed
in the New Testament in James 2:26; “For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Upon death, our bodies return to dust from which we were made (Gen. 3:19, Ps. 146:4), while our Spirit, or breath, returns to God as Ecclesiastes 12:7 says “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Thus upon checking out, we truly sleep in the grave as mentioned countless times in the Bible, and while in the grave there is no activity, knowledge or wisdom (Eccl. 9:10). Rest in peace, R.I.P. as time goes by in a blip confirmed by what Jesus said to the thief hanging beside Him on the cross; “today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). Obviously, Jesus did not ascend into paradise that day, but "into the Earth" or grave via the tomb. Jesus Himself give up the ghost (expired) upon death on the tree (Mk.15:37, 38, Lk. 23:46, Jn. 19:30), and we wait for His promise of the resurrections (Jn. 5:25 & 28). After Jesus' resurrection, He breathed on the disciples to receive the Holy Ghost (Jn. 20:22). Stephen, the first Christian martyr, when being stoned for the witness of Jesus, said “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” before he fell asleep (Ac. 7:59, 60). Truly, Adam, the thief, and Stephen are still at rest, but Jesus is risen indeed! “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (I Cor. 15:45). Precisely, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Ph. 1:21) as Jesus, the quickening, life-giving Spirit, will raise us from the dead on that glorious day!
Back
to the tree…
Today
we live in a world concerned about sustainability
and preservation of trees and green
space and this certainly is a good
thing. We can easily recognize the benefits of trees as they are
aesthetically pleasing, provide a variety of food, shade, housing for animals
among a wealth of other good things. Trees are a reflection of God’s awesome design and His original
intent was that the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was indeed part of a sustainable
design providing life to the
tenders. My sister and her husband
live in a beautiful neighborhood in New York City lined with trees and wonderful
architecture. They are in love with their surroundings as well as their private
garden off their apartment. They have the best
of both worlds; wonderful architecture
in the midst of beautiful gardens. The
Lord Jesus, the Gardener
and the Architect, has
an unimaginable beautiful City
prepared for us called New Jerusalem
where we will have town-homes (John 14:2 & 3) taking up residence with our Creator
and Savior;
For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities,
or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all
things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he
might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all
fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in
earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:16-20
It
is interesting that the Tree of Life
in Revelation is in the midst of the
City of New Jerusalem. The Garden of Eden, where the original Tree of Life stood also in the midst, was destroyed
when all of the Fountains of the Great
Deep burst open obliterating everything on the face of the Earth during the
Great Flood, and every living creature with the breath
of life perished (Gen. 6:17). As a result of the Flood’s geological wrecking ball, this present Earth is broken
down, and destined to be clean dissolved (Is. 24:19) to make way for the New Heavens and New Earth as
clearly promised by the Scriptures (Is. 65:17 & 66:22, Rev. 21:1
& 5 among others).
The doctrinal teaching of this present Earth continuing into eternity is false.
When
one also understands the Scriptural and
scientific fact of a non-moving Earth,
then one can clearly understand the very words of Jesus when He said “Heaven
and Earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Mt. 24:25) as
this present location of the Earth must make
way for the greater New
Earth, which no doubt will also be immoveable.
And on the New immoveable Earth, will
be an awesome City, Jesus’ personal Architectural
Masterpiece, and “In the midst
of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree
of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every
month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev.
22:2). The commandment to Jesus from Father God is life eternal
(Jn.12:49 & 50), and Jesus obediently fulfilled the Fathers commandment allowing
citizenship in His Kingdom by taking away the sin of the world
(Jn.1:29). So seek life through belief in
Father God’s one and only Son Jesus
who hung on a tree so that we may have
the right in the next life to partake of the Tree
of Life. And thus the promise of eternal
life!
And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting
life: and I will raise him up at the last
day.
John 6:40
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never
hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:35
They
shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is
in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 7:16 &17
To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree
of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 7:2b
Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:24
O taste and see that the LORD is good!