Let’s read Genesis 2:7, 8; Genesis 3: 22-24; Luke 15: 17-24 & Romans 8:14-17 in tandem
“...the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed”
……man sinned (Genesis 3)
“...the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life”
“When he (younger son) came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”
God’s original plan for man was to keep him in the custom-made garden which He himself had planted. A garden full of good, pleasant and satisfying things. And most of all, a garden where God himself was ever-present to have fellowship with man. The same God had to eventually banish man out of the garden as a direct result of his disobedience & Sin.
The way to the tree of life was blocked by a flaming sword flashing back and forth. Man’s “knowledge of good and evil” is nothing but knowing what is right and what is wrong through self understanding / self-righteousness. Man cannot reach to the tree of life (eternal life through God’s sonship) unless and until he chooses to die to his self-will, self-understanding and self-righteousness by letting the flaming sword (Word of God and the Spirit of God) pierce through him/her.
Our heavenly father awaits our homecoming, just as an earthly father would wait for his son/daughter to return. He wishes you to be with him at home (fellowship the Him) and not away from Him (fellowship with the world).
Man’s knowledge of good and evil does not allow him to logically understand the concept of dying to self-will and living to God’s will. But, those who are led by the Spirit (and not just by the intellect) are the children of God…!
Jesus Christ is the only Way, through which you and I can reach the tree of life. Jesus Christ is the only Truth, by which you and I are set free from all bondages (including the bondage of the “knowledge of good and evil”). Jesus Christ is the only Life, which is real and eternal. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
What is your current Spiritual address? At home with your Heavenly Father - living in righteousness, peace and Joy or Out there serving the deceiver (Satan) – dying in sin, shame and hopelessness….??
