June 5: Carnal Eyes vs. Unlimited Riches
“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17
The one forbidden tree was the simplest of tests. Tests are allowed. They are meant to have the effect of strengthening character. Loyalty to Yahweh—a total and unreserved trust in Him—make for the absolute most essential thing necessary for life to continue endlessly.
God’s command to Adam to enjoy the wonderful variety of good things to eat in the Garden also contained this one limitation. The severity of the consequence should impress upon us that, regardless of what we might think is or isn’t important, our attitude toward God matters very much to Him. Our attitude toward His word (His commands) matters very much to Him. After this world is destroyed and recreated, Heaven will be filled with people whose hearts are in total harmony with His heart: Shalom, beloved!
But denial of death’s reality is a pillar of the devil’s doctrines. He, Satan, has nearly everyone believing that everyone will live endlessly . . . somewhere, in one form or another. But when he said in [his] heart . . . “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13), he was not wishing for a pure and loving character; only exaltation of himself to the position and raw power of the Almighty. Not only does he lie about death, saying, “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4) but he is in total denial of his own prophesied death: “I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you.” (Ezekiel 28:18)
The disloyalty of Adam and Eve put into effect God’s death decree: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19
The death decree from God for Adam and Eve was decreed for the changed, different, sinful Adam and Eve (and to all people – see Romans 5:12). When they disobeyed the LORD God, the eyes of both of them were opened (Genesis 3:7), referring to a different and carnal understanding of the things they were seeing. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7) God’s death decree is for the purpose of putting to an end that which is in rebellion against His commands. It is interesting that the first commandment of God to the man that He had made was a command to partake and enjoy the vast variety of fruits from countless beautiful trees. It took the devil’s influence of casting doubt and contradicting the LORD (Genesis 3:1-5) to change the direction of focus. By their obedience to the serpent’s suggestion, they, in essence, were saying: “Instead of partaking of the vast and limitless array of gifts from Yahweh, we will take a sample from the test tree.” Brothers and sisters, may you accept God’s death decree to sin that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead . . . Ephesians 1:17-20a