When God planted his garden in Eden, he included all of these and more besides. Eden included a river that branched into 4 other rivers. Trees of every variety and beauty filled it. They provided abundant fruit for Adam and Eve to eat. They had no fear of the animals or the fowls of the air. Eden provided unhindered fellowship for Adam and Eve as well as with God.

Their enjoyment of the Garden depended upon their obedience to God's command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve knew his command, which they believed and obeyed. His truths controlled their world view, how they interpreted and judged reality in their lives.

Into this paradise came the serpent who tempted Eve with his truth claims. He tempted them with three false claims. He cast doubt upon God's command to refrain from eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He followed it with a flat denial of God's directive and included a defamation of God's character.

These claims stood in stark contrast to God's demands. With new claims of truth, the serpent presented a different world view to them. He enticed Adam and Eve to believe him. To do so would require that they interpret and judge reality according to his “truths.” This new world view contradicted what God had revealed to them. Sadly, Eve believed them, and Adam followed with his willful participation in her sin.

Their rejection of God's truths plunged them into death, as he had promised. Their freedoms died. Their interpersonal friendship declined into dissention. Adam and Eve’s fellowship with God died, too. They no longer wanted to walk with him and hid from him in fear. Death claimed their innocence and purity. Failure to believe and obey God brought death; dying they died.

These events recorded in Genesis 2-3 correlate to today. Eve succumbed to the common temptations which plague our lives: lust of the eyes (it looked pleasant to her eyes); lust of the flesh (it promised satisfaction to her fleshly desires); and pride (it would make her wise, even equal with God). We face these same temptations daily, and we surrender to them as she did.

Truth claims from religions and societies about us clash with God's directives to his creation. As the fruit of the prohibited tree looked good to Eve, the claims that contradict God appeal to us and promise much. Their proponents promise that no truth claims have priority over others. They all stand equal to each other.

However, they do not tell you that all world views and the truth claims that form them have implications and consequences. God warned Adam and Eve of the implications they would face upon their rejection of his commands. They experienced the despair of their disobedience. We face the same consequences when we reject God's truths.

In grace, God promised to Adam and Eve a champion who would destroy the serpent on their behalf. (See Genesis 3.14-15.) Over time, God progressively revealed his promise and the nature of the one who would fulfill his word. In the fullness of time, God sent for his son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill his promises.

All of God's promises culminate in Jesus. His humanity, combined with his deity, enabled him to destroy the works of the serpent (Hebrews 2.14). In his life, death on the cross, and resurrection, Christ overcame mankind’s true enemy and provided reconciliation back to God for sinners like you and me. Ultimately, he will bring a new Paradise upon his return for those who believe and trust their lives to him.