ABIAKUM MACBETH SYMBOLISM: Bible Ref: Gen 2:7-9, John 3:14-17, Gal. 5:16-25

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

A.     To show how Adam missed it in the Garden of Eden as a result of sin (disobedience) and how that singular act of rebellion denied him accessed to the Tree of Life.

B.      To show how the foundation of Christianity was laid through Faith in Jesus Christ and how anyone who wants to eat of the Tree of Life must come to God by faith.

Symbolism is simply the act of using objects or symbols to represent an idea. Symbols are mostly used when trying to explain an abstraction. Jesus Christ in most of his teachings used symbols to explain the mystery of heaven.

From our bible text, we are told that the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living soul. Man is therefore made up of three parts: dust (flesh), spirit (breath of life) and the soul.

The bible further explains that the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and put the man to dress it. In the garden, the Lord God made three types of trees to grow (Gen. 2:9)

1                    The tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food

2                    The tree of life

3                    The tree of knowledge of good and evil

The Tree good for food was meant to feed the body (strength) . The Tree of life was meant to give him life (everlasting life) and the Tree of knowledge of good and evil was meant to open his intellect or his mind (judgement) (Gen. 2:22).

God, being a God of progression knew when Adam could eat of the fruit of these trees. He first commanded Adam to eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Perhaps he knew when he was to ask Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But when the serpent came and deceived Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which God had warned him not to eat, that was the beginning of the fall of man just as it happened to Lucifer and the fallen angels (1/3) when they disobeyed or rebelled against God (Iss.14:12).

Adam turned his back against God when he ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil because he wanted to be like God. (Gen 3:1-5) God did not just throw him out of the garden, he shut the gate to the garden, and even unclothed him with his glory. (Gen 2: 22-24) That was the beginning of man’s suffering and misery. Man was influenced most by the devil as God left him alone to till the soil. That was why in no distant time the whole earth was filled with evil and God regretted ever creating man. (Gen 6:5-7)

§  Question: Was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil meant for Adam’s consumption just as the tree that was pleasant to the eyes and good for food? If yes, give reasons if no explain.

§  Do you believe that these trees were but a symbol of God’s original plan for mankind?.

Because Adam never ate of the tree of life, Jesus Christ who became that tree of life (bread from Heaven) had to come to fulfill that plan of God for mankind. (John 3:16, Rev 2, 7, 22:14, John 6:33-35, 6:48-51) Though Adam could have had it on a platter of gold, if we must eat of the tree of life, we have to work for it by faith; working our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12)

Thus, the whole essence of Christianity is to prepare man to eat of the fruit of the tree of life which Adam never tasted of in the Garden of Eden. Anything outside this is mere religion. Jesus Christ therefore is a perfect representation of the Tree of Life which Adam never tasted of its fruit. So, if we must eat of the tree of life, we must be obedient to God’s commandment, we must never turn our back against him by sinning (rebellion), we must love him and keep his commandments (holiness). There is no sin God hates like the sin of disobedience or rebellion. (Lucifer, Adam, Moses, Samson, King Saul, Jonah, etc.) God wants attention (Exo 34:13)

Because Christ came to restore the life that man was denied access to in the Garden of Eden (Tree of Life), and because the devil also knew the consequence of man eating of the fruit of the tree of life, he tried to distort for the second time that plan of God for mankind through the temptation of Jesus and our everyday trials as believers (1 Peter 5:8).

So, whenever you disobey or rebel against God’s instruction, you fulfill the law of Sin. But when you obey Him, you move a step closer to the tree of life (Gal. 5:16- 25).

CONCLUSION

This knowledge helps to believer to know his or her stand with God. Am I Sinking in Sin or Standing in Faith? If sinking in sin, all that is needed is for that soul to repent and make a U-turn back to the path of righteousness. If in faith, then that soul just need to keep pressing towards the higher calling.

By this knowledge, the believer knows that God has given us a second chance to mend our ways so that we can eat of the tree of life. It is not by works or merit lest any man should boast, it is by grace (Titus 2:11)

Any work in the church or in the ministry that will not take you a step closer to the tree of life is but an exercise in futility.