Distraction

There are so many distractions. Everywhere you look, there is a distraction. The government shutdown was a significant distraction that consumed the nation’s attention, alongside the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Terrorism in Nigeria, civil unrest in Mexico, just to name a few.

The First Distraction

The first ever distraction occurred in Genesis 3:1-6. The serpent refocused the woman’s attention on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He convinced her, contrary to the will of God, to eat the forbidden fruit, and that by eating it, she would become like God.

This momentary distraction opened a door to devastation unimaginable at the time. All distractions are strategic.

The first universal law of creation

The first universal law of creation is that God created all things. All things were made by him, and without him, outside of him, nothing was made or could exist.

1. There is nothing made that he did not make, John 1:3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that made.”
2. He is the original Architect, Hebrews 3:4, ‘Every house is build by some man, but he who built all things is God
3. Everything God made was certified as very good, perfect, as stated in Genesis 1:31. The system is perfect.
4. There’s nothing beyond that that is new. There is nothing new under the sun, according to Ecclesiastes 1:9-10. It’s already been done before.
5. Man’s system: There is no remembrance of former things. There shall be no remembrance of things to come with the things that shall follow. He keeps on repeating the same mistakes.
6. In this present reality of the knowledge of good and evil, everything is twisted out of its intended purpose.
7. Jesus prayed, Keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of this world, John 17
8. Why does evil exist? It was never God’s will for humanity to know good and evil. At the beginning of Adam and Eve’s creation, they didn’t know that they were naked. Eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was a choice

-The First Distraction took place in the Garden of Eden. The serpent caught the woman’s attention. She ate the forbidden fruit, which was their sacrifice, and then gave it to her husband. He ate it. First, distraction, then distortion, and finally terror.

Distraction comes through an agency of the devil. Watch out for distractions.

-The first currency is seed and fruit trees. The currency of man’s system is mammon, or the worship of money. You cannot serve God and mammon. Many are distracted in this area of life.

-The first judgment, Genesis 3:9-20. God judges every man’s work.

-The first system of creation is still being enforced

The First Collection Center was located at the base of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam was supposed to dress the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by arranging a sacrifice at its base, a sacrifice of obedience.

Man’s Collection Center: People are trained by the system to bring their sacrifices to mammon into a financial system.

Israel was commanded by God to bring their tithe, a 10th of their labor as a sacrificial offering into the temple, the place of worship. They were on God’s land, enjoying the provision of God’s blessing. Just as Adam was commanded to offer up the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as a sacrifice

The New Covenant fulfilled the  Adamic Covenant made in the Garden of Eden after the fall of man: Genesis 3:15, The seed of the woman shall crush the head of the serpent

In this new covenant, Christ, the second Adam, has given every person the measure of faith and grace. The decision to receive salvation is a personal and individual choice.

God created everything with skin and coats. For example, Peacock feathers grow out of his skin, and its feathers are a bird’s coat. His coat is a representation of its glory. For example, a bird’s feathers are a representation of its glory.

The first man and woman were crowned in glory and honor. They were naked and not ashamed. After the fall of man, God clothed them in coats of animal skins, Genesis 3:21.

Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors

God gives man white linen in this age of grace through the gift of righteousness. For example, in Revelation 3:18, Jesus said, ‘Buy of me white raiment that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness do not appear.’

Finally, Revelation 22:2 states that the leaves of the tree of life shall be for the healing of the nations. Adam took the leaves of the trees in the garden and made aprons to cover himself.

Wouldn’t fruit from the tree of life be enough to give eternal life? Or could our new clothing be clothing made from tree leaves?

God never walked away from his original creation because it was perfect.

Grace & peace!

For more content from Secrets from the Garden of Eden, join me on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. and most Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Gotomeeting.com. Meeting room link is https://meet.goto.com/praisecenterchurch