In Genesis chapter 2 we see God talking about the tree of Life and the tree of good and evil….
“Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing 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 2:9 New American Standard Bible
TWO trees are mentioned by name in the midst of the garden. “The tree of Life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Adam and Eve were already intimate with God externally; they met with Him daily and were receiving from Him daily. They had NO concept of either good or evil.
The only guiding “Force” they had, about how to live out their lives was God. He alone was the solid “Constant” in their lives. He had already formed them each in their own special way…
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7 New American Standard Bible
“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:21 and 22 New American Standard Bible.
Man was formed out of the “dust” of the ground and “Wo”man came out of the “womb” of man; who was formed out of dust and breathed into by God “the breath of Life”.
Let’s go in a different direction for a moment…
I’m sure we have all heard the statement: “Draw a line in the sand.” When faced by someone or some situation against which; we should take a stand. What does that even mean:
“Draw a line in the sand”?
Isn’t sand almost formless; and void (lacking structure)? Kind of reminds me of Genesis 1:2a {“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep,”}
Of what benefit is a “line in the sand” that the wind, water, animal or ANY opposition; is able to destroy?
And is able to be destroyed, with such ease. Doesn’t sand take the form of whatever has moved it or has displaced it, taking “the path of least resistance”? If we were to take a stand against something; wouldn’t we want to use something more “solid”?
Bedrock, perhaps?
Now back to Genesis….
At the end of chapter 3 verse 19 we see this pronouncement at the end of God’s dealing with Adam over the disobedience of partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:
“For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Earlier we talked about God “forming” man and breathing into him causing him to become a “living soul”. God had placed something SOLID; into man. Something eternally living, with no worries about discerning good; or evil. Created by God; to only be focused, on God. Giving man dominion over God’s creation. And man ONLY taking direction, instruction and communion, from the Creator. Now we see this “firmness” being stripped from man, and his destiny being reduced from an eternal one; to one of dust.
Seemingly gone was original intent.
Now every line drawn; was just another line in the sand.
for every creeping thing to be able to destroy and blur.
God did not want this type of “existence” to go on forever; so:
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. Genesis 3:22 & 23
Dust and ashes. Ashes and dust. Serpent food…
“The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat all the days of your life;”
Genesis 3:14 NASB
Men and women gnawed on, by the serpent. I guess humanity was glad that it didn’t have to live forever. Being ground further down and down; gnawed and chewed, day after day until nothing was left. Just dust to be consumed by our enemy.
But there still was this “Tree of Life”; and God would not allow His original intent to be thwarted.
As a matter of fact, there was an Ever Living Lamb; that was slain before the world was made (Revelation 13:8). He had made a way. He would come and set things right and restore structure and firmness; once again for man.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Jesus replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you. You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.””
Matthew 16:13-19 God’s Word Translation
This Rock was not Peter (even though he was “a chip off the old block” so to speak). The Rock was Jesus; the only firm and steady One. It was and is tied to HIS identity. The One, who unlike the dusty serpent food; was Solid. Unshakable. Unmovable. There was no dust found in Him; only Rock. Nothing for the devil to chew on.
What does this mean for us?
#1 Stop drawing lines in the sand! Look to The Rock! See the lines in Him! There you will be able to stand; in His contours. Paul said in Galatians 4:19 that he labored until Christ was formed in you …He’s our Rock! If you fall; look to the Rock! Fall on Him! Don’t try to “glue” more sand together. Shake it off! Stand firm! Move forward!
#2 Don’t be focused on evil … or even good! Eat from the Tree of Life (Jesus)! It is the “knowledge” (intimate knowing) of Him that brings eternal life…reject wallowing in the daily dust!
#3 Christ in you IS the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27) Since He has come (Jesus, and Holy Spirit); we have an internal guiding force, unlike Adam’s that was only external. Make full use of the internal (Holy Spirit); and the external (other believers) “firmness” in the Faith.
“Jesus asked them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord is responsible for this, and it is amazing for us to see’? That is why I can guarantee that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce what God wants. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken. If the stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person.”
Matthew 21:42-44 God’s Word Translation
Come to Him; fall before Him broken so that you will be healed!
Don’t cause Him to have to come to you, with a crushing blow in order to free you from the dusty food, fit only for a serpent.
Let God restore the solid and original intent for our lives.
Let everything else that is dust; fall away from our lives. The devil can have it. Let him choke on it!
Better him than us!
We want to eat of the Tree of Life and not merely choke on temporary dust!
December 17th, 2016 by Eric