BANISHED FROM EDEN by Augusta W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 6, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 18.

BANISHED FROM EDEN.

By Augusta W. Heald

"So HE drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Gen. 3:24. Ruined by disobedience, cast out from the Eden home, doomed to a life of toil and hardship, with the sentence of death hanging over them as a dark shadow, what a contrast to the former blessed existence! But God in his infinite mercy has given them a door of hope; the Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head. Gen. 3:15. As we in the light of the Gospel revelation look backward, it seems impossible that man could realize all which is implied by this promise, but we know not how much God graciously revealed to them. They believed the promise, and through faith entered upon their henceforth hard life of toil, and conflict with sinful human nature, and the temptations of Satan.

The Bible history of our first parents is very briefly recorded. Sons were born to them; an altar of sacrifice was erected, calling for the blood of innocent victims representing the merited punishment of sin and prefiguring the sufferings and death of the Redeemer as an expiation for the sins of the world. We see how the first son of Adam fell, how the enemy watched for his soul as a wild beast "croucheth at the door." Through faith in the promised Saviour, Cain should have ruled over sin, but he yielded. Through envy he rose up and slew his brother, and with bold defiance answered his Maker, "I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" Gen. 4:9.

O, the bitter consequences of that first sin in Eden! Every son and daughter of Eve is a victim to the snares of Satan. "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16), all conspire to render us an easy prey. The "prince of this world" (John 14:30) knows well our every weakness; for his own wicked nature rests upon us. He would captivate us by the pleasures and allurements of the world, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matt. 4:9. He would fill our hearts with hatred toward God and our fellow-beings, for well he knows the law, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:15. Again, he would lull us to sleep through self-indulgence, and on the other hand would arouse in us every evil passion. Read that fearful catalog of the works of the flesh contained in the fifth chapter of Galatians. "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21.

Just here may be found the motive which actuates the enemy of souls. Satan is himself banished from heaven and the presence of God. Certain destruction awaits him, and he is exerting all his evil powers to draw man down to that same terrible fate. O, how many have been hurried into the grave by sinful indulgence! How many, tho living, are yet "dead in trespasses and sins"! Eph. 2:1. Look at the inmates of prison and penitentiary; look at the haunts of vice in all our large cities; look within your own heart and see the constant warfare against every holy desire and Godlike aspiration; see how the old Adam within you asserts his sway! Said the apostle Paul: "I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Rom. 7:22, 23. And whoever sets his face onward and upward toward holiness and heaven finds this same contest going on within. How often have we cried out with shame and grief, "The good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do," and in our moments of despair we are ready to exclaim with Paul, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Rom. 7:19, 24.

But, praise to the mercy of God, we may also exult with the apostle, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57.

"With tearful eyes I look around; Life seems a dark and stormy sea; Yet, 'mid the gloom, I hear a sound, A heavenly whisper, 'Come to me.'"