Death - The 2nd Greatest Blessing

The Greatest blessing is, of course, Jesus Christ, who brings us life.

Two trees are recorded in the Garden of Eden:  the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life.  The tree of knowledge is identified in Genesis 2:17, and the tree of life is identified in Genesis 3:22.  In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam that he can eat from any tree except the knowledge tree.  This means that Adam and Eve have free access to the tree of life.  Thus, no end of physical life.  I would propose that since an act of sin would bring spiritual separation from God (spiritual death), this tree of life, being a physical tree and fruit, would impart life to the physical aspect of man. 

The act of sin is committed in Genesis 3:6.  Disobedience to God brought spiritual separation.  Since man lives in a physical world, he displays that separation by hiding, due to his nakedness, in Genesis 3:7-8.  They also cover their nakedness with fig leaves, a symbol of man trying to cover up sin.  Plants are inadequate for atonement, since, according to Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”  God himself performs the first blood sacrifice for them in Genesis 4:2, “…did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”  But ultimately, Adam and Eve, and all of mankind, would have to suffer death to their physical bodies according to Genesis 3:19.

In Genesis 3:22, now that man is sinful, God does not want man eating from the tree of life, because that would result in man existing in a sinful state, physically, for eternity.  This proves the contention that in Genesis 2:17, God was speaking of a spiritual death.  Without the ability to die physically, God has no means of redeeming man.  I believe this is the issue with Satan and his demons.  Since they are spiritual beings, and they have sinned, there is no method of redemption.  We as physical beings are capable of losing the life in us through the shedding of our own blood, which satisfies God’s punishment to Adam in 3:19, but does nothing to atone for the spiritual separation from God.  Only Jesus’ death and resurrection can redeem us spiritually into God’s presence.  Jesus’ death was not our means of escape from physical death, we must suffer that ourselves.  Hebrews 9:27, “and as it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this, the judgment.”  We fulfill the first in our own death, and Christ takes our place in the second. 

So according to Genesis 3:22, if we do not die physically, we are damned to an eternity of separation from God.  Thus, physical death is a blessing from God.   Not the physical means, of course.  That may prove quite unpleasant.  And death is good only if death comes in God’s time, and by his plan.  To force our own death would demonstrate a lack of faith in God.  God is a spiritual being, and if we desire to return to him in spirit, we must first be free of our physical selves. 

But that is not enough.  Our physical selves being sinful is a result of our spiritual rebellion.  To be free from the physical alone still leaves us with a sinful spirit.  Returning to the spiritual with our sin intact leaves us in the state of eternal separation from God.  God is holy, and no sin can abide in His presence.  The only way to redeem our sinful spirit is to receive the forgiveness that Jesus gives.  The Word existed, and came to us in the physical form of Jesus (John 1:1-14).  Since he lived a sinless life, the only human to do so, his physical death was a sacrifice worthy to redeem all of mankind, see Leviticus 17:11 again.  The perfect sacrificial blood of Christ, giving his life, is a gift that can cleanse our spirits and return us to a spiritual relationship with the Father.  For without Christ, Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

Another aspect to all this is when we submit ourselves to the blessing of Jesus' sacrifice, we have access to the Father in that perfect relationship now, even though we still live and suffer in the physical sinful state.  Its quite the conundrum, having to live in a sinful state and continually seeing ourselves as sinful, (and having others judge us as sinful, because we still are), yet having the spiritual access to Almighty God through the Holy Spirit.

All that to say, What a blessing it will be to die!  My spiritual death has been accomplished and spiritual life has been redeemed by Christ Jesus.  All I wait for now is to live out this life, hopefully in a manner worthy of the sacrifice Jesus gave.   Philippians 3:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

 - The following was written by yours truly on August 25, 2005, and has been sitting in my hard drive ever since.  Slightly edited for grammar and clarity.  Dedicated to my spiritual brother Justo, who will soon pass into glory.