“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. ADAM’S SIN BROUGHT DEATH, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (Rom. 5:12) Satan brought in sin and sin brought in death; Yes, sin let in Death, it opened the door, so that we are accomplices ourselves to the powerful blow Satan struck, plunging this world INTO DARKNESS. “…for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23)
The Lord created a beautiful garden so He could have fellowship with man and man would dress and keep the garden. “The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of THE GARDEN He placed the tree of life and the tree OF KNOWLEDGE of good and evil…the LORD God COMMANDED the man, “you MUST NOT eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen. 2:9, 16-17) Remember this, our loyalty cannot be proven unless it can be tested, that’s the purpose of the “tree.” In the midst of all the wonderful things God gave Adam, HE SINNED and Into darkness we plunged.
This was revealed to the prophet Isaiah and he said, “The LORD will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will WIPE AWAY all tears…In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in Him, and He SAVED US! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation He brings…In that day, everyone in the land will sing, We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in PERFECT PEACE all who TRUST IN YOU, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! TRUST IN THE LORD ALWAYS, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant…” (Isaiah 25:8-9, 26:1-5)
-Bill Stockham