IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP, AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1.
The Book of Genesis is a Book about the Creation of the World and the BEGINNING of Civilization. The word “genesis” is a Greek word which means “beginnings.” Genesis, which is the first Book in the Bible, is not just about the story of Creation. It is also the historical record of the BEGINNINGS of mankind. It details the course mankind followed after his fall from Grace in the Garden of Eden. Genesis is the story of the Love of God and His plan and purpose for creating mankind IN THE BEGINNING.
AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND ADAM AND EVE HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 8.
God had told Adam and Eve there would be severe consequences if they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He told them that IN the day they ate thereof they would surely die. The consequence of sin is death. We know Adam and Eve did not physically die on the day they ate the Forbidden Fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, the process of spiritual and physical death did BEGIN on the day they disobeyed God by eating the Forbidden Fruit.
UNTO ADAM ALSO AND TO HIS WIFE DID THE LORD GOD MAKE COATS OF SKINS AND CLOTHED THEM. AND THE LORD GOD SAID, BEHOLD THE MAN IS BECOME AS ONE OF US, TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL: 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. Genesis, Chapter 3, Verses 21-23.
Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden because of their sin of disobedience. God slew an animal and took the skins to clothe them to cover their nakedness. This is a picture, or type and shadow of Christ dying on the Cross in order to cover our sin and shame with His precious Blood. He paid the penalty for the sins of mankind in order that mankind could again DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. The Blood of Jesus is the only hope for mankind.
AND UNTO ADAM HE SAID, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARKENED TO THE VOICE OF YOUR WIFE AND HAVE EATEN OF THE TREE, OF WHICH I COMMANDED YOU SAYING, YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF IT: CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR YOUR SAKE; IN SORROW YOU SHALL EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE: THORNS AND THISTLES SHALL IT BRING FORTH TO YOU AND YOU SHALL EAT THE HERB OF THE FIELD; IN THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE SHALL YOU EAT BREAD, TILL YOU RETURN UNTO THE GROUND; FOR OUT OF IT WERE YOU TAKEN: FOR DUST YOU ARE, AND UNTO DUST SHALL YOU RETURN. Genesis, Chapter 3, Verses 17-19.
God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden and God commanded him to DRESS and KEEP the Garden. To KEEP means to “guard.” It was Adam’s responsibility to keep the Garden secure. In other words Adam was the Security Guard given the task to keep and protect the Garden of Paradise from intruders.
Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden because they disobeyed God. Adam became a TILLER of the ground. The ground (spirit) had been cursed because of his sin. The ground, or earth, is prophetic of the spirit or heart of man. Both spiritual and physical death were the consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin. Now Adam had to WORK the ground (spirit) IN THE SWEAT OF HIS FACE. In other words, Adam had to work hard in order to keep the Serpent from invading his spiritual garden again.
When a farmer TILLS the ground he is breaking up the hard soil so he can plant seeds which produce life sustaining food. In the Garden of Eden God provided everything Adam and Eve needed. They did not have to till the ground (spirit), all they had to do was KEEP or GUARD the Garden from any outside invaders. After he sinned Adam’s heart (spirit) became somewhat hardened and now it was up to him to make sure his relationship with God would continue. KEEP (guard) YOUR HEART (spirit) WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR OUT OF IT ARE (flow) THE ISSUES (FORCES) OF LIFE. Proverbs, Chapter 4, Verse 23. A better translation would be “GUARD YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE BECAUSE THE FORCES OF LIFE FLOW OUT OF IT.”
AND OUT OF THE GROUND (spirit) MADE THE LORD GOD TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT; AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Genesis, Chapter 2, Verse 9.
Eden was a spiritual garden as well as a natural one. Eden was a place where God and man walked together in spiritual fellowship and communion. Adam and Eve had the privilege of eating fruit from all the trees in the Garden except one tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Eating from the Tree of Life represented Adam and Eve’s communion and fellowship with God. The Tree of Life represented Christ. GOD IS LIFE. The fruit produced by the TREE OF LIFE sustained them spiritually. The GROUND, or spirit, produced all the spiritual food they needed. God breathed His Spirit into Adam after He formed him from the dust of the Earth. God was his source of spiritual nourishment.
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represented the LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. God had told Adam and Eve in the day they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they would surely die. The Law of Sin and Death was in effect long before the Mosaic Law was instituted.
MY SON, ATTEND UNTO MY WORDS; INCLINE YOUR EAR UNTO MY SAYINGS. LET THEM NOT DEPART FROM YOUR EYES; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF YOUR HEART. FOR THEY ARE LIFE UNTO THOSE WHO FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO THEIR FLESH. Proverbs, Chapter 4, Verses 20-21.
It is the responsibility of every person to make sure his or her Spiritual Garden is guarded and tilled. The WORDS of the Lord are our Defense, Buckler and Shield. God’s Commandments are written in the hearts or spirits of every Christian. We must not only listen to the Voice of God when He speaks to us in our Spiritual Garden, but we must keep His WORDS because they are LIFE and HEALTH to all who find them.
God’s Commands are His DEMANDS--not His suggestions. God commands us to LOVE one another. He commands us to love, serve and seek Him with a thankful heart. He commands us to “guard our heart” so He can find a place of FELLOWSHIP with us within our heart.
When people take their focus off of God and His Commandments, they leave themselves open to sin. True repentance is the only thing which will help them to refocus and again find that place of communion and fellowship with God.
When we hear the Voice of the Lord in the Garden of our Heart do we run toward Him or run and hide from Him? God expected to communicate with Adam and Eve daily. He visited them every day for the purpose of having fellowship with them. He expected them to be there when He called out to them. Where are you when God calls out to you in your heart? Can you hear His Voice when He calls out to you or are you hidden amongst the trees in the Garden as Adam and Eve were? Does He dwell in the MIDST of your Garden or outside the boundaries of your Garden? Where are you when He desires to commune and fellowship daily with you? Do you look forward to meeting and fellowshipping with Him in the Garden of your heart, or have you forgotten He desires to daily commune with you?