In Genesis 2:7 we read,
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
God named this man Adam. We also read in the Book of Genesis that God took a rib from Adam’s side and formed a woman; whom would be named Eve.
Genesis 2:21-22,
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”
God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and commanded them to eat freely of every tree – save one – that being the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9,
“And out of the ground 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 knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:16-17,
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
As you continue to read the Book of Genesis, you find that Adam (and Eve) disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit – and brought condemnation upon all mankind; for Adam (and Eve) immediately died spiritually and he (and Eve) began to die physically. God then drove Adam (and Eve) out of the Garden of Eden, “lest he take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” [Genesis 3:22], in his spiritually dead estate. We also read in the Book of Romans that all of humanity’s spiritual condition and as well being subject to physical mortality is due to Adam’s disobedience.
Romans 5:12,
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Throughout God’s Word [the Bible], we find that God provided spiritual life [for one to be reborn spiritually and to live eternally] through His Son Jesus Christ. All who will through faith eat from this spiritual tree [Jesus Christ] will live forever.
John 6:51, 53-54 states,
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world…Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
In Revelation 22:14,17 we read,
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city…And whosever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Though Adam brought condemnation upon all of mankind [For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)], Jesus offers salvation to all.
John 3:17,
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 5:24,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Acts 4:12,
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Having just entered into this New Year, many entered the year as they formerly left the previous year – spiritually dead. Many may have made a New Year’s resolution to become more “religious” this year in hopes of obtaining God’s graces; to make them spiritually alive. However, the only thing that will truly bring forth a new beginning this New Year would be to trust in Jesus Christ unto eternal life. The question that now remains, “Have you eaten from the tree of life?” In other words, have you received God’s gift of salvation [eternal life] that is only found in His Son Jesus? For, herein you will truly find a new beginning.
