| Two Trees and the War In the middle of a beautiful garden home planted by the Lord himself, God placed two trees—the “Tree of Life, which gives eternal life to those who eat from it,” and “The Tree of experiencing [“knowledge of”] Good and Evil.”[38] Daily they were to come to the first tree. There was nothing “magic” about its fruit—no fruit can give eternal life. Rather, it represented their acknowledgment that God is the Source or our life[39]. Eating from this tree was a public acknowledgment of their choice—that they believed God. That they believed that love brings life, and God is the Source of all love and life. Next to this tree was another. At this tree alone could Satan approach the new couple; he couldn’t hound them around the garden. But why would God allow his enemy any access to the pair? The enemy had accused God of running a dictatorship—no real freedom! Each day, Adam and Eve would see this tree when they came to the tree of life. There was no electric fence or barbed wire around it. By allowing man equal access to both trees, it was clear that God runs a truly free universe. They were free to choose to hear and believe the enemy. No dictator would allow this! There was nothing poisonous about this fruit. Eating from this tree would be a public acknowledgment that they believed Satan, that they believed that they could obtain life and happiness in some way other than that which God had said. It would indicate that they had joined him in rebellion and in disbelief of God’s warning that sin results in death. This separation from God, the Source of life, would prove fatal. Paradise Lost Genesis chapter 3 recounts how mankind fell and joined the rebellion against God. “Is it true God said you can’t eat from any of the trees in the garden?” the serpent said to Eve in a sarcastic tone—right away questioning God’s love and generosity.[40] “Oh, no! We can eat from any tree in the garden—except this one. God said that the very day we eat from it, we will certainly die.” “You will not die.” replied the serpent, a clever way of saying, “God is a liar! He can’t be trusted!”[41] “God knows that the day you eat from it, you will be just like him!” He’s selfish! He’s holding something back from you! He succeeded in convincing Adam and Eve that God was wrong, and he was right. They chose to believe a talking snake rather than their loving Father. They ate some of the fruit, and joined the rebel angel. Immediately a change came over the world. The light that bathed creation was drowned in darkness. The light that shone from their own bodies faded. Yet even greater than the physical changes that came were the changes in their very natures.[42] By natural law, their children would inherit this fallen, or “carnal” nature. One thing seemed evident to them: they had not died. The serpent was right—God had lied. Sin did not result in death! Unless... God was coming to kill them! By believing the serpent’s lies, man became afraid of God[43]. |
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| 38 Genesis 2:9 39 Psalm 36:9 40 Satan's sarcastic tone is implied in the original Hebrew text. 41 In this first lie that he told mankind, Satan implied that man was immortal. From this lie he has led the majority of the world to believe that we possess an "immortal soul.” This is in direct contradiction to the statement of God. "The soul that sinneth shall die." Ezekiel 18:20, King James Version. The Bible clearly says that only God has immortality—I Timothy 6:15, 16. See appendix 1 regarding the state of the dead. 42 Read chapter 4 of this book for details 43 Genesis 3:8-13 |
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