Canada Geese, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg MB
Photo by Cliff Derksen
Photo by Cliff Derksen
Life in the Garden of Eden must have been something else, for both man and animal. Now they, the animals all had been given a name and life was great. In fact the God himself mentioned that it was "very good". (Gen. 1:31) Which in fact means, it was perfect! Adam later got a partner of his own named Eve, how much better could it get? Nice weather, a great job, innocence, (meaning no ego, or hate or anger or un-forgiveness,) life was fantastic. I cannot even imagine what that must have been like. We now simply have nothing to compare that with now-a-days!
But, what about the animals? What was life like for them?
EVERYONE WAS VEGETARIAN!
"...everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so." Gen. 1:30.
What we do know is that originally then, animals ) were vegetarians. Eating only plants for food. So that means for example not one of the animals were out hunting and eating one another for food! No lion attacking zebras for lunch. No fear of being attacked at all. What a place to live.
This would have made a fantastic all-inclusive vacation spot, where you could take your family, kids and all, and just stroll around with no worries of snakes biting you or lions eating you! Why, you could have a picnic and share your veges with any animals that might come wondering around! Like my one and a half year old grand-daughter likes to say, "Wwwwwwooooooooowwwww!!
This means of course that there was no death in this amazing garden. No one was dying. What God called "perfect" then did not include death, disease, pain or suffering.
THE COMMAND:
Now, there was only one restriction God had insisted on, something he made very clear to Adam. That was the command not to eat of a certain tree in the garden. No one knows exactly what "kind" of a tree it was, usually you see pictures of an apple tree, but we really don't know what it was. Never-the-less they were not to eat of it. It was a beautiful tree in the center of the garden called the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". God also made it very clear that the results of eating from this tree, against his wishes of course, would be devastating. "The day you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen. 2:17.)
This was interesting as we must remember that Adam and Eve our first parents, were free moral agents in that they had been created with a gift refereed to as "free choice"! Also, we must remember that they had been given a perfect place to live and work having all they needed for a full and happy "eternal" life. This of course included the animals who were also enjoying this special place, perfect for all.
What a place of safety and security to raise a family, no worries re. the concerns we have today. But, as we shall see, evil was lurking and things went awry very quickly. Adam and Eve had to make a choice...!
But, what about the animals? What was life like for them?
EVERYONE WAS VEGETARIAN!
"...everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so." Gen. 1:30.
What we do know is that originally then, animals ) were vegetarians. Eating only plants for food. So that means for example not one of the animals were out hunting and eating one another for food! No lion attacking zebras for lunch. No fear of being attacked at all. What a place to live.
This would have made a fantastic all-inclusive vacation spot, where you could take your family, kids and all, and just stroll around with no worries of snakes biting you or lions eating you! Why, you could have a picnic and share your veges with any animals that might come wondering around! Like my one and a half year old grand-daughter likes to say, "Wwwwwwooooooooowwwww!!
This means of course that there was no death in this amazing garden. No one was dying. What God called "perfect" then did not include death, disease, pain or suffering.
THE COMMAND:
Now, there was only one restriction God had insisted on, something he made very clear to Adam. That was the command not to eat of a certain tree in the garden. No one knows exactly what "kind" of a tree it was, usually you see pictures of an apple tree, but we really don't know what it was. Never-the-less they were not to eat of it. It was a beautiful tree in the center of the garden called the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". God also made it very clear that the results of eating from this tree, against his wishes of course, would be devastating. "The day you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen. 2:17.)
This was interesting as we must remember that Adam and Eve our first parents, were free moral agents in that they had been created with a gift refereed to as "free choice"! Also, we must remember that they had been given a perfect place to live and work having all they needed for a full and happy "eternal" life. This of course included the animals who were also enjoying this special place, perfect for all.
What a place of safety and security to raise a family, no worries re. the concerns we have today. But, as we shall see, evil was lurking and things went awry very quickly. Adam and Eve had to make a choice...!
"The Creator, in taking infinite pains to shroud with mystery
His presence in every atom of creation,
could have had but one motive
- a sensitive desire that men seek Him
only through free will."
Paramahansa Yogananda
His presence in every atom of creation,
could have had but one motive
- a sensitive desire that men seek Him
only through free will."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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