So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3:24 (NKJV)


In order to understand what man lost when he sinned, we must understand what he had to lose. He had God but lost Him. God is Heaven and Heaven is God. You have no Heaven without God. Too often we interpret Adam's loss in terms of material things, such as a garden home. The most glorious mansion set in the loveliest environment can have within it fabulously rich people who live in an atmosphere of hell because God is not in their hearts. God's main dwelling is not in a home, but in a person. Before God drove man out of the Garden, man drove God out of his life and heart by sinning. The first sin was nothing less than actual mutiny against God. It was either God or sin, and Adam and Eve chose the latter. It's just as simple as that.


The loss of anything in this world can never be compared with the loss of God. For this reason Paul equated all of his material losses with dung.


The most terrible thing that could ever come upon a man would be the curse of immortality along with everything the world could offer except a relationship with God.


With bowed heads and broken spirits the weeping Adam and Eve left the Garden. But their tears symbolized feelings far deeper than the mere loss of a bit of earthly property. The long walk out of the Garden was a separation from the One who gave meaning to their lives. The only real hope they had was the promise that someday a Redeemer would come. But until then, by faith they could have a partial relationship with the Lord, even as do we who are waiting for His return.


It would be well to remember that it is not correct to talk about the "way back to God." Rather, God stands ready to come back into out lives the moment we open the door. There is no flaming sword between us and God unless we put it there!


The only way to stop god's entrance into our lives is to shut the door. Let's fling it wide open today and always.


taken from: First Things First
February 19
by: Bob Spangler