Adam and Eve...

The account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is factual. It is neither a myth nor an allegory. God planted the Garden, and then, taking the dust of earth, He formed the body of Adam, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (God's life) and man became a living soul ( Gen. 2:7). After this, God made Eve from a rib of Adam. Thus, the first family began.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of mankind is free will. Man is a creature with power of choice. He may choose the will of God or his own way.

To emphasize this, God placed a special tree in the Garden, there were other trees too. But this one tree was forbidden. It is called the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The necessity for such a tree is clearly seen. Adam and Eve were to be called upon to choose for God. But there would be no choice if there was not a possibility to choose against God.

But God did everything to make obedience wholly desirable. He created Adam and Eve with strong mental faculties. They were neither beasts nor barbarians. Their minds were keen, discerning, and they must have known instinctively what it takes years of schooling to accuire of the knowledge of the universe today.

God provided abundantly for man's needs. Food was in generous supply; the climate was ideal. Adam lacked nothing. The climax of God's gifts to him was a companion, Eve.

Futhur, God warned of the consequences of disobedience. He solemnly set forth the penalty which would accompany any deviation from His revealed, perfect will.

God gave Adam work to do. Far too often lives are wrecked from idelness. It was not so much with our first parents. "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15).  A sinless man who still had to work. God entered into fellowship with man, and they talked together in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8). Some men don't understand that work is a very good thing.

Then came the test. Satan, smarting under God's judgement, sought to wreck the Lord's new program. Man had been given dominion over that which formerly had been Satan's domain. How would the enemy of God proceed?

This was far from any isolated incident. As it were, all heaven held its breath. The test was not simply whether Adam and Eve would eat the fruit of the tree, but whether the authority of Almighty God would prevail against determined Satanic attack.

We can see the battle rages all around us. This world is under attack. But we are not deceived.

Psalm 24:1


The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 118:23


This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

1 Corinthians 10:26


For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.