Sunday, May 1, 2016

Decision Day



Decision Day is today, May 1st, where many American High School Seniors must finalize and submit their choice of college. Adam and Eve faced the first decision day in the Garden of Eden. God had sat them in the garden with simple instructions.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17, AMPC)

Before the fall of man, we can observe the establishment of several things:
·        Fellowship with God
·        Marriage between a man and a women
·        Dominion of man over the earth
·        Boundaries (read Psalm 148)
·        And the Establishment of Choice

God lovingly established boundaries for man’s protection. All parents have set boundaries for their kids. While much freedom has been lost to evil and fear, as a child I knew during the day how far I could drift from home without risking correction from my parents. Boundaries when set properly protect, instruct, and produce freedom. Knowing limits always grants freedom within those limits. God set limits for Adam and Eve too for their protection, instruction, and freedom where God said, “You may eat freely of every tree in the garden; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and blessing and calamity…” When we carefully consider and follow the boundaries we are given we remain humble towards the Father and His leading. Beginning in Job chapter 38, Job finds himself in a position we would hate to be in as God schools Job on boundaries. We should always yield to the commands of the Father!

[Consider this:] What soldier at any time serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of the fruit of it? Who tends a flock and does not partake of the milk of the flock? Do I say this only on human authority and as a man reasons? Does not the Law endorse the same principle? For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it [only] for oxen that God cares? Or does He speak certainly and entirely for our sakes? [Assuredly] it is written for our sakes, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10, AMPC)

The first trial given to Adam and Eve was the trial of obedience. This trial set the course of man who consistently crosses the boundaries God has set and falls into disobedience. In essence, God said to Adam, “Continue in holiness. As you are holy and in conformity to the Creator’s will and you will continue to be happy. As you are happy in the enjoyment of your Creator’s favor, either in this paradise or in one that is better. Know this Adam. You are now upon good behavior. You are put into paradise upon trial; be observant, be obedient, and you will live forever in happiness; otherwise should you fall into disobedience, you will be miserable, dying and you will ultimately die.” Eating of the fruit of the tree was evil only because God forbade it.


Understanding the distinctions here are important. When examining the phase “freely eat” in the Hebrew we understand the greater meaning. “Freely eat” in essence means “eating you shall eat.” Eat until you are completely full and satisfied, and if you want to eat more, eat! Eat! Eat! Likewise, the distinction of the phrase “surely die” is important. You will “surely die,” in the Hebrew means, “dying you will die.” You will begin dying and continue to die until ultimately death. This can be understood from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (AMPC), “I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Set before Adam and Eve was a full grant of blessing, or a curse.


God had set two trees in the Garden.

And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight or to be desired—good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life also in the center of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of [the difference between] good and evil and blessing and calamity. (Genesis 2:9, AMPC)
 
These two trees set in the center of the garden were the focus of man’s attention. The Tree of Life represents eternal life. The Tree of Knowledge represents man’s choice. Once man fell into disobedience, most theologians agree that the Tree of Knowledge loses its significance and becomes common like every other tree, which signifies that man is still eating the forbidden fruit and walking in disobedience. God removes the Tree of Life from man’s access. If man were able to touch or eat from the Tree of Life in his sinful state, he may remain trapped in his sin for eternity (Genesis 3:22-23). The Tree of Life does not appear again until the end, where we read in Revelation 2:7 (AMPC), “7 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

 
Obedience is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22). Sacrifice is only necessary for what obedience would have kept. Had Adam and Eve never sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, Christ would have not had to sacrifice Himself to redeem mankind from sin. Jesus is a direct contrast to Adam and Eve. Adam’s disobedience in life brought death, while Christ’s obedience in death brought life.

And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Philippians 2:8, AMPC)

 
What decision will you make today? Will you be like Adam and Eve and chose disobedience or death? On the other hand, you can be different from Adam and Eve and you can chose obedience and life? I choose obedience and life. Join me!

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