Paradise Not Lost, Just Delayed - Lenten Devotional 6

Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24 NLT)

Remember when you were a baby, all your needs were met, not a care in the world? Yeah, me neither. From the earliest we can remember, we have had struggles. Whether we didn't get the toy we wanted or couldn't eat our cake first, to that first loss of a special person in our life, we have known discontent and even heartbreak. 

We have known good and evil. It was good when we would fall asleep in the car and wake up in our bed. It was evil when you realized the kid down the street was stealing your Strawberry Shortcake figurines and you wanted to punch her. 

Then as we got older the good and evil changed. Our perception changed. Good was finding that perfect man or woman to walk beside in your daily life and watching your baby take his first step. Evil was, well, just turn on the news and you see it everyday. Deceit, violence, drugs, manipulation...and the list goes on. 

In the verses at the beginning, God was worried Adam and Eve would eat from the Tree of Life and live forever after their eyes had been opened to a world of good and evil. At first glance, one could think the banishment from paradise for one mistake was a bit harsh. Let's think for a moment. Do we really, honestly, want to live in this world of good and evil forever? 

Prior to eating from this Tree of Good and Evil, the Tree of Life was not off limits. We were created to live forever in the goodness of God. Once that was disrupted, God saw fit to change the plan. He actually saved us when He banished them. We can now rest assured that the evil and heartache of this life on earth is temporary. While we work and struggle through life here, we will one day enjoy the fruit from the Tree of Life again. He will open the gates for us to return to paradise. 

A verse preceding these mentions God provided animal skins for Adam and Eve to clothe themselves. This would have been the first account of death and bloodshed on the behalf of mankind. The blood was shed to cover the shame of the sin. Later in the Bible, we read of many instances where the blood saved God's people from their suffering and sin. Ultimately it was Jesus who saved us all. 

Because His blood and sacrifice, our sin is covered. Because of Him, we will live forever in paradise. We will be saved from living forever in this world of good and evil just like Adam and Eve. 

So you see, what seemed harsh at first glance, really was what is best for all of us. Kind of like not eating the cake first then following it with the hotdog. We can enjoy the lasting sweetness long after the meal is over.