First Principles

Lesson 7

Lesson Text—Genesis 2:8-9

Genesis 2:8-98 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.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.

Lesson Text—Genesis 2:16-17

Genesis 2:16-1716 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 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.

Lesson Text—Joshua 24:14-16

Joshua 24:14-1614 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom

ye will serve;

Lesson Text—Joshua 24:14-16

whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD,

to serve other gods.

Lesson Text—Ezekiel 44:23

Ezekiel 44:23And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Focus Verse—Psalm 119:30

Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgment shave I laid before me.

Focus Thought

God created mankind with the freedom of choice. His will is that

we choose Him with a heart of love.

I. The Two TreesCulture ConnectionOne of the most beautiful gifts God

gave to mankind is that of free choice. God established the principle of this gift by placing one forbidden tree in the Garden amidst the many other trees He gave mankind for food. Only one forbidden tree! You would think man could have disciplined himself to avoid the one forbidden tree, but he failed to do so and experienced firsthand the consequence of choice.

I. The Two TreesSome people question God for

placing the forbidden among the encouraged, but they fail to grasp the beauty of God’s gift of choice. Were there no forbidden tree, there would have been no choice. The opportunity to choose elevates the elements of commitment and worship to the level of intentional actions.

What a delight to know that God chose me! And what an expression of true worship to choose God by our own will and volition!

I. The Two TreesChoice sweetens the strains of praise and worship, and it defines the consequences of making bad choices.

Choices have consequences. How important it is for us to embrace the beautiful gift of choice God gave us and make right choices with positive consequences. Because of God’s first gift of choice, we now have the opportunity to make positive choices in life that will benefit our lives eternally.

I. The Two TreesContemplating The Topic

Choices. We make a multitude of them every day. What time should I get up? Do I hit the snooze bar just one more time? What shall I wear? Breakfast or no breakfast? Pop-Tarts or fresh fruit? Floss or not? What route to work? Music or news on the radio? Coffee? Tall? Grande? Venti? We have not even gotten to work yet. Even the Starbucks website proudly proclaims that over eighty-seven thousand different drink combinations are available from which to choose.

I. The Two TreesIt seems the choices never stop.

British prime minister Herbert Asquith once spent a weekend at the Waddesdon estate of the nineteenth-century Rothschild family. One day, as the butler was serving Asquith at teatime, the following conversation ensued: “Tea, coffee, or a peach from off the wall, sir?” “Tea, please,” answered Asquith. “China, India, or Ceylon, sir?” asked the butler. “China, please.” “Lemon, milk, or cream, sir?” “Milk, please,” replied Asquith. “Jersey, Hereford, or Shorthorn, sir?”

asked the butler.

I. The Two TreesWhen put in proper perspective,

most of the daily choices we make fade into insignificance. They simply do not matter too much. However, it is vital to understand that God has placed into our hands choices that have not only consequences in this life but also eternal ramifications. These choices will affect the sum of our days on earth and our destiny when our life on earth is finished. When we understand that, the weight of the eternally consequential choices becomes quite sobering.

I. The Two TreesIn reality, these choices—

monumental though they may be—are cause for celebration in our lives. We hold the ability to secure our eternal future. To a great extent, our destiny lies within our own hands. No one else can dictate our spiritual standing before God. Each person has received the wonderful gift of choice whether or not to follow Jesus Christ. This liberty to choose brings both the gift of salvation and the responsibility for our salvation to every individual. Choice—a wonderful gift!

I. The Two TreesSearching The Scriptures

The Two Trees

From the very earliest days of mankind’s existence, choice has been a part of his relationship with God. Options have always been available to him. By the nature of his creation, he has always had to face the consequences of making decisions. He could opt either to please the Lord or to disregard God’s instructions.

I. The Two TreesWe can clearly see this necessary choice represented in the presence of two unique trees that God placed in the Garden.

When God formed Adam from the dust of the earth, He provided for him an idyllic place to abide. (See Genesis 2:8.) While there are not many details in Scripture of the Garden’s appearance, one would assume it must have been spectacular. The vistas in this habitat must have been stunning. We can only imagine the lush greenery that abounded in this perfect

environment.

I. The Two TreesThe description provided in God’s Word states, “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 2:9).

It is important to note that among all the wonderful plants growing there, two trees bore special attention, for they held eternal consequences for mankind. One was called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the other was

known as the Tree of Life.

I. The Two TreesThe former was prohibited territory for Adam and Eve, while the latter was of such value as to appear again in the closing pages of the Bible. Each tree merits a closer look individually, but together they bear testimony to one vital fact about the essentiality of choice in mankind’s very nature.

God did not place Adam and Eve into an environment that by its very composition forced them into compliance with His wishes. Indeed, by its inherent nature, submission cannot exist where choice is absent.

I. The Two TreesThe Garden of Eden, for all its beauty and wonder, was not devoid of options. Even there, two trees beckoned to mankind. One was the pathway to blessing and eternal life at the direction of God; the other held inestimable sorrows and grievous punishment for rejecting God’s ways. Adam’s decision regarding this choice still resonates in the human drama today. Choices have incredible consequences.

A. Tree of LifeA. Tree of Life

God’s love for mankind compels Him to provide good things for the well-being of individuals. The apostle Peter stated, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3).

Deeply rooted in the Garden of Eden was a tree that provided life to all who would eat its fruit.

I. The Two TreesWhile we do not understand exactly how that occurred, we can be sure of this effect because the Lord specifically barred Adam and Eve from accessing it after their sin so they would not live forever in that fallen state. (See Genesis 3:24.) This tree offered the richest of blessings here—life.

It is God’s nature to give us life. Without question, He is the giver of natural life in spite of what the culturally elite may believe.

I. The Two TreesLife is a gift that comes from God and is not to be taken lightly or cast aside casually. The life that God gives is far more than simply the compilation of biological processes working in miraculous tandem within the confines of the human body. The life that God offers is both natural and spiritual life.

When Adam sinned, the pronouncement of death was upon Him. The words of promised judgment were fulfilled when Adam ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17).

I. The Two TreesClearly, Adam did not die physically at that moment, though the process of death in his body began. Further, as soon as he swallowed the fruit, he suffered the horrible consequence of spiritual death, which became our human heritage. The Scriptures tell us that death passed onto all people because of Adam’s failure. (See Romans 5:12.)

This spiritual condition was never God’s plan, and the balance of the Bible presents the unfolding plan of God to redeem mankind and restore

his spiritual life.

I. The Two TreesJesus made His purpose clear: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Interestingly, life was accessible to Adam from a tree in the Garden; spiritual life is restored to us also by a tree. When Jesus hung on Calvary’s tree, He opened the way to restored spiritual life to all who will obey His plan and receive it.

I. The Two TreesThe Tree of Life was situated in the middle of the Garden, thereby being readily accessible to Adam. It was not difficult for him to find. In like fashion, the life that Jesus offers to everyone today is neither hidden nor obscure. Rather, He is readily available to all who would desire Him. (See Acts 17:27.)

Acts 17:27

“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from

every one of us” (Acts 17:27).

B. Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

B. Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

Just as there was a tree that provided life and blessing to Adam, there also was a tree that held danger for him. In the midst of the Garden was a tree that would have more lasting effect on the human race than any other except for the one on which Jesus died. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the only tree from which Adam and Eve were forbidden to

eat.

I. The Two TreesAdam and Eve were completely

innocent in their creative state. They had no understanding of evil and were blissfully free from sin and corruption. They had never felt the pang of their conscience over a transgression. Theirs was a life of simple, unfettered communion with God. Then one tree and their disobedience changed their life of simplicity.

Satan’s clever twisting of God’s words deceived Eve into partaking from the fruit of this tree, but Adam willfully disobeyed God’s

commandment.

I. The Two TreesThe result of that decision was catastrophic. Sin gained dominion over mankind, and death overshadowed his spirit. The mind, the will, and the emotions of mankind were darkened and subject to his flesh. Separated from God, mankind was hopelessly lost until God’s plan of redemption unfolded through Jesus Christ. Apart from redemption, mankind was destined to eternal death following this life. All of these were consequences of a wrong choice.

I. The Two TreesThese two trees in the Garden of

Eden teach us that each person has choices. Every person must decide whether he will follow God’s will or his own, and each person is accountable for his decision. Sadly, there is always an alternative to choosing God’s ways. Fortunately, we do not have to succumb to its lure, for we have the power to choose to obey God.

II. Free Will and ChoiceFree Will and ChoiceIt is a lie of modern “science” to

suggest that humans are a part of the animal kingdom. A Bible-centric worldview renders that position unacceptable. We are not simply a higher member of the animal kingdom. God fashioned all the animals and plant life by His word alone, but He made mankind from the dust of the earth with the work of His hands. Out of all living things, only mankind received the very breath of God into his nostrils.

I. The Two TreesFurther, the animals simply became a living collection of proteins and amino acids, but mankind alone became a living soul.

Resident within the soul-nature of mankind is a God-consciousness, to which an individual can respond through the faculties of his mind, emotions, and will. With the mind we can reason regarding God. Through emotions we can respond to what our mind understands. Through our will we can express our emotional desires in something more permanent than

feelings.

I. The Two TreesWe can make positive choices. Indeed, serving Jesus Christ is at its

very core a choice. When one wishes to follow Him, the process starts with an act of volition, a choice to change. While the Lord draws and woos, He will never force anyone to serve Him. There is conviction but no coercion at the Cross. God does not rob a person of his will in order to save him. Indeed, the Holy Ghost beckons to a person through his mind and his emotions to engage his will. It is this freedom to choose that allows an individual to avail himself

of Heaven’s mercy.

A. Necessary for RelationshipsA. Necessary for Relationships

It is important that we understand the reason for God’s creation. Everything that was made, including mankind, exists to bring pleasure to God. (See Revelation 4:11.) When mankind ponders the timeless question, “What is my purpose in life?” he may discover the answer in the previous words—mankind’s single purpose is to bring pleasure to God.

While it may be difficult for us to comprehend, God longs for a loving connection with His creation.

I. The Two TreesHe is moved by the love of those whom He has redeemed, for coerced love is not love at all.

Contrast the feelings of a child being forced to hug a relative that he has never seen before to the profound joy of a child racing to the door to greet his mom or dad who has been gone for a few days. The first is a coerced expression, but the latter stems from relationship.

I. The Two TreesNo true relationship can exist

outside a person’s willful choice. If we had been created automatons who unwittingly abided by God’s laws absolutely divorced from any desire to do so, our expression would carry little pleasure for Him. However, when a person looks at the option to obey or disobey, to serve or not to serve, to love or not to love, and he chooses to seek the Lord, then and only then has he forged a relationship. Without the will’s involvement, the relationship is merely an association.

B. Produce Life LessonsB. Produce Life Lessons

Clearly, one of the benefits of possessing a human will is that we learn certain life lessons early on. From early childhood, we quickly begin to associate our will with the outcome of those choices. We learn before we can even talk that some actions produce pleasurable results while others bring unpleasant consequences. This knowledge is what allows parents to train their children as the Scriptures command.

I. The Two TreesPeering through the lens of

understanding that actions have results and decisions never occur in a vacuum provides us the wisdom to face more major life decisions. We can begin to govern our decisions with the clear realization that the choices we make will affect us and others as well. Such decisions as choosing a career, selecting a spouse, and pursuing an education are all quite significant in this life. Certainly, exercising wise decision-making processes can spare us from untold grief and sorrow as life

unfolds.

C. Determine DestiniesC. Determine Destinies

While the world is destined for destruction, the church is destined for victory. Sin is destined for judgment, and Satan is destined for Hell. Such absolutes are ordained by an immutable God and will not change.

However, our destinies as individuals are not pre-determined. Our eternal destiny is in our own hands.

I. The Two TreesPeter declared, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (II Peter 1:10). This is our responsibility. We have the ability to determine that our eternal home is secure and certain. We can make choices that will lead us to blessings, or we can make choices that will lead us to cursing.

I. The Two TreesThis is a wonderful word of comfort for us all. When it comes to our eternal salvation, we are not subject to the whims of a fickle, impersonal deity. Cosmic fate does not dictate our destiny, and we are not at the mercy of luck or chance. We have the power and the freedom of choice to ensure the eternal destiny we will enjoy.

III. The Carnal NatureThe Carnal Nature

One of the significant challenges in making decisions is the unclean carnal nature of humans. It is resident in our flesh and clouds our thinking pertaining to spiritual things. Within every choice a Christian makes is an ongoing struggle. (See Galatians 5:17.)

The roots of this difficulty trace back to the fall of mankind.

I. The Two TreesGod created Adam with a three-fold nature that is subsequently in us all. We are comprised of a spirit, which is the eternal portion of our being, and we live in a body, which is the physical vehicle of biological life. The product of the eternal spirit dwelling in a body is a conscious awareness known as the soul, which encompasses the mind, the will, and the emotions. God designed a person’s spirit to work in harmony with His Spirit to rule over the soul to make right decisions that will supersede the tendencies of the fleshly

lusts.

I. The Two TreesWhen Adam fell into sinful

disobedience, death occurred as God promised. Adam did not die physically that day, but the process of biological death began. Further, he died spiritually that very moment. (See Ephesians 2:1.)

Suddenly, Adam and his descendants found themselves without the proper order for making godly choices. His spirit could no longer echo God’s Spirit and rule in his daily life.

I. The Two TreesNow, the flesh unduly affected and led the soul, and mankind began giving himself to fleshly desires, carnal pursuits, and ungodly activities.

One need only peruse the Scriptures to see a pattern of people, even godly individuals, who were governed by their flesh in moments of decision. Noah became drunk. Abraham lied about his wife’s identity. Jacob cheated those close to him. Joseph’s brothers extracted vengeance on him. Samson fell for a harlot. Saul succumbed to pride.

I. The Two TreesDavid sinned with his neighbor’s wife. Solomon worshiped idols. The list continues of those who, though desiring to make godly choices, were led astray by their own flesh in the presence of a dead spirit.

Gratefully, on this side of Calvary, we enjoy a new dynamic. The power of New Testament salvation has made us alive. “You hath he quickened” is the glorious promise of God to believers. A living God infuses His living nature into us through the Holy Ghost.

I. The Two TreesSuddenly, a hunger to please God and to live according to His commandments is born into lives previously controlled only by what pleased their flesh. Believers are now free to make that choice.

Although the born-again believer enjoys a regenerated spirit, he still faces the ongoing conflict between his desire to follow God and his sinful flesh. Both beckon to his mind in every choice. They war against each other.

I. The Two TreesIn his letter to the Romans, Paul accurately described the tension between these two elements. (See Romans 7:14-21.)

While we unequivocally have the privilege of choosing, we also have the challenge of choosing wisely. We must allow the Spirit of God to govern our spirit, which then can subdue our bodies and guide our minds. Only by doing so can we ensure the secure outcome of the life we desire. (See Romans 8:13-14.)

I. The Two TreesThe freedom of choice is present for

every individual. We will choose either to follow our flesh or to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We will please ourselves, or we will please Him. We will desire His ways, or we will seek our own ways. The ongoing battle between the carnal nature of mankind through our natural birth and the holy nature of God through the new birth can cause us to shout with Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24).

I. The Two TreesHowever, we can also shout with his conclusion: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25).

IV. Choosing LifeChoosing Life

Some people are more decisive than others and seem not to have a problem making up their minds regarding natural choices both big and small. Others vacillate between their options, whether the decision is as significant as which job offer to take or as mundane as “paper or plastic.” Admittedly, some choices in life are more difficult to make than others, either because the long-range results of the choice may be difficult to discern or

because the two results seem rather similar.

I. The Two TreesWhen we clearly recognize the

distinctive, anticipated results of a particular decision, one would expect the decision-making process to be easier. When one choice promises favorable consequences and the other choice offers unfavorable ramifications, the assessment should not be confusing. If one path promises joy and the other sorrow, there should be little pondering at the crossroads.

Deuteronomy 30:19

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may

live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

I. The Two TreesThis seems to be such a clear-cut

decision about which no one should hesitate. One choice leads to blessing; the other leads to cursing. One option is life; the other is death. The choice is clear and it is ours to make.

The Scriptures often demonstrate mankind’s privilege to make choices. For instance, Joshua called on God’s people to exercise their responsibility of choice (Joshua 24:14-15). He made it clear that each person would choose for himself. He also demonstrated that others’ choices need not sway ours.

I. The Two TreesWe can opt to honor the Lord by our choices regardless of what others do. Ultimately, we still have the freedom to choose life.

Elijah similarly offered a clear distinction to the people gathered on Mount Carmel. (See I Kings 18:21.) From this encounter, we can glean that there is no middle ground. One will either choose to follow the Lord, or he will not. He cannot keep one foot on each road, for they are divergent pathways.

I. The Two TreesEvery person today also receives a similar call. Choosing to serve God is a pathway of blessing that leads to abundant and everlasting life.

A. God Desires Relationship with Mankind

A. God Desires Relationship with Mankind

One of the wonderful revelations of Scripture is that God longs for a relationship with mankind. He does not need us, but He desires us; He loves us. He wants communion and intimacy with those whom He created and redeemed. It was for this purpose Jesus Christ died on the cross.

I. The Two TreesWhen God created mankind, He

enjoyed close connection with Adam and Eve. He enjoyed daily fellowship with them, for when He arrived after their sin they were not surprised by His presence, just ashamed for their nakedness. It was evidently common for them to enjoy time with Him daily. What a precious thing it must have been to have ongoing, regular, intimate fellowship with Him! It still is.

I. The Two TreesIt is amazing and almost staggering

to think that the great Lord of Heaven and Earth would willingly go to such lengths to restore intimacy with the ones who had rejected His ways. Commencing from Genesis chapter three the Bible records God’s efforts to restore mankind to a relationship with Him. Perhaps no truth of the Bible is more significant than this one: God passionately seeks a relationship with mankind.

B. Choices Have ConsequencesB. Choices Have

Consequences

Choices have consequences. We have observed this pattern throughout our lives. In matters great and small, this principle holds true, and it is no less true regarding one’s spiritual standing before God.

I. The Two TreesLife and death hang in the balance

of the choice to repent and to obey the gospel. Our decision either to live for God or to reject His appeal leads us ultimately either to Heaven or to Hell. We choose between eternal bliss and eternal torment. H. E. Fosdick writes, “He who chooses the beginning of a road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” Some would rather not be confronted by such stark facts. They would rather believe that life here is independent of life there, but such is not the case.

I. The Two TreesAll individuals are laying up treasures or judgments that they will enjoy or rue after their days on earth are finished. While some are laying up treasure in Heaven, others are laying up for themselves wrath and judgment to come. (See Matthew 6:20; Romans 2:5.) It is this knowledge and understanding that should cause us to approach every decision about our spiritual life soberly and in the fear of God.

C. The Choice Belongs to UsC. The Choice Belongs to Us

No one else will answer for the decisions we make as individuals. When the results of our choices arrive either in this life or in the life to come, no one will be able to point his finger at situations, difficulties, or setbacks and justify himself. Our spiritual condition will not be attributable to anyone else, for every individual will bear accountability for each choice made in life.

I. The Two TreesWhile that is sobering, it also is liberating. The good news is that we can choose to be saved. We can choose to live righteously. We can choose to obey His Word. We can choose to be blessed. We can choose to go to Heaven. Some would try to depict the Christian life as one of bondage and captivity, but in reality, we enjoy the greatest freedom known. We are free to choose.

C. The Choice Belongs to UsInternalizing The Message

From the time of his creation, mankind has had a gift that nothing else in creation has—the power of choice. The natural world does not have that. Creation praises God as a function of its very nature. The psalmist declared, “Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together” (Psalm 98:7-8). These things have no volition in the action; they

merely respond to the God who created them.

I. The Two TreesHowever, mankind, whom God

created in His image, can choose whom to worship. He can decide to what he will devote his life. He can opt to obey God’s ways or to reject them, for he will always have that choice to make. Adam made that choice by selecting the fruit from the only tree forbidden to him by God’s word and thus introduced sin into the human race. God exercised the power of choice in coming to redeem mankind from the grip of sin.

I. The Two TreesNow every individual can exercise the power of choice by deciding whether or not to obey and follow Jesus Christ.

C. S. Lewis wrote powerful words about the importance of choosing the right thing now. “When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in?

I. The Two TreesThis time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side.”

Choose today. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus.