Unbelievers dismiss ‘The Garden of Eden’ as a myth. Even some Christians prefer to doubt its historicity. After all, acceptance of the Fall of Man is acceptance of its direct impact upon one’s eternal destination. But despite their naive protestations, these ‘Christian’ sceptics will suffer the same fate as their unbelieving mentors. They will not escape the consequences of the law of sin and death.
Our first parents knew that death would be their punishment for disobedience.
So, with these five infamous words: “You surely shall not die,” man was tempted and deceived. Satan successfully brought paradise to an end for the human race. That which God had pronounced ‘Very Good,’ He judged and evicted from His presence. Never again would man walk with God in a physical sinless bliss on planet earth. Men may scoff at the existence of a Holy God, but no man doubts the existence of evil. Evil is all around us. Though we weep and rage at its destruction, we willfully participate in it all the same. Paul spoke never a truer word when he said: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23).
Paul describes the brutal fight between the two forces within us (1Cor.7). Our conscience, being that which is of ‘the image of God,’ battles against our sinful desires. Yes, though the spirit may be willing, the flesh is weak. Even our attempt at good works cannot reverse God’s righteous judgement. Seeing defeat as being inevitable, Paul cries out: “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (Rom.7:24). The answer is Jesus! It is Jesus who has set us free and given us eternal life. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom.8:2).That’s why Paul had just said: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom.8:1).
Jesus has brought us back into the very presence of God. And to tell the truth, that is a very good place to be.
John Staiger
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