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Patriarchs and Prophets
experience, to see the danger of setting it aside, even in the slightest
degree.
And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be man’s
lot was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by his
sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to
develop habits of self-control. It was a part of God’s great plan of
man’s recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin.
The warning given to our first parents—“In the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die” (
Genesis 2:17
)—did not imply that they
were to die on the very day when they partook of the forbidden fruit.
But on that day the irrevocable sentence would be pronounced. Immor-
tality was promised them on condition of obedience; by transgression
they would forfeit eternal life. That very day they would be doomed
to death.
In order to possess an endless existence, man must continue to
partake of the tree of life. Deprived of this, his vitality would gradually
diminish until life should become extinct. It was Satan’s plan that
Adam and Eve should by disobedience incur God’s displeasure; and
then, if they failed to obtain forgiveness, he hoped that they would eat
of the tree of life, and thus perpetuate an existence of sin and misery.
But after man’s fall, holy angels were immediately commissioned to
guard the tree of life. Around these angels flashed beams of light
having the appearance of a glittering sword. None of the family of
Adam were permitted to pass the barrier to partake of the life-giving
fruit; hence there is not an immortal sinner.
The tide of woe that flowed from the transgression of our first
parents is regarded by many as too awful a consequence for so small a
sin, and they impeach the wisdom and justice of God in His dealings
with man. But if they would look more deeply into this question, they
might discern their error. God created man after His own likeness, free
from sin. The earth was to be peopled with beings only a little lower
than the angels; but their obedience must be tested; for God would not
permit the world to be filled with those who would disregard His law.
Yet, in His great mercy, He appointed Adam no severe test. And the
very lightness of the prohibition made the sin exceedingly great. If
Adam could not bear the smallest of tests, he could not have endured
[61]
a greater trial had he been entrusted with higher responsibilities.