God gave man the authority to reproduce and to rule.
Mankind has done an incredible job of reproducing. Approximately six and a half billion people currently live on planet Earth. It is estimated by the year 2020 this figure will be eight billion!
But the Lord did not command man to reproduce simply for the sake of populating the earth with more males and females. They were to increase the number of His image bearers on earth.
However, this command was given before sin made its entrance into the world. Before eternal bodies became mortal bodies. Before disobedience, fear, doubt and shame poisoned the lives of God’s children.
When these words were spoken. Adam and Eve were holy. Their relationship with the Lord was one of intimacy, love and authenticity.
The couple clearly heard the Lord’s voice and immediately obeyed His instructions. They were exemplary students. Gaining godly wisdom daily.
Adam and Eve were the image bearers of Almighty God.
As God’s image bearers— rulers here on earth, Adam and Eve were to nurture and guard the garden of Eden. This assignment was both enjoyable and satisfying. They lived and worked in the perfect environment— God’s holy creation.
Adam and Eve never had to worry about deadlines. They were eternal beings.
There were never shortages of any kind. The Lord provided abundantly for all their needs.
All creation submitted to their authority. Establishing both a beautiful and safe environment in which to live and work.
Although created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were not robots. The Creator endowed them with free will. They had the ability to make decisions independent of God.
Eve and Adam always had a choice. Obey God— the Father of righteousness and life OR satan— the father of sin and death.
Yes, all was well in the garden until that fateful day when they chose to believe the lie of the enemy— satan. Instead of choosing to trust their loving Papa who had always been faithful to His word. They made a choice that forever sealed yours, mine, satan’s and Jesus’s fate.
When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. They set in motion a chain of events that necessitated both God’s discipline and saving grace.
On that historic day the Lord declared to Eve. “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe. With painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
To Adam He said. “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you. ‘You must not eat from it.’
Cursed is the ground because of you. Through painful toil you will eat from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground. Since from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:16-19
Evil— death now ruled the earth.
For a fleeting moment, satan foolishly thought he had won. Soon he learned that Adam and Eve’s decision had also sealed his fate.
Setting in motion His plan of redemption. Papa sacrificed an animal so He could make garments of skin for Adam and Eve— a covering— an atonement for their sin.
Instead of death— permanent separation from Him, which Adam and Eve justly deserved because of their rebellion. The Lord through animal sacrifice reinstated fellowship— a relationship with His children.
This first shedding of blood for sin I believe was the blood of a lamb— a foreshadowing of the ultimate and final sacrifice— Jesus. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
GO DEEPER
From the moment we are born. We strive for independence— to exercise our free will. Sometimes this results in decisions that wreak havoc in our lives.
What tops your “Worst Decisions” list?
Why?
What decision should you have made?

(Excerpt from I AM Happily Ever After)
I AM Happily Ever After e-book
letsloveothers 