Two Adams and a Great Controversy
Christ was the second Adam. (1Cor. 15:45). Like the first Adam, Jesus was born of God and inherited His Father’s likeness in character and connection in spirit. As man was made a living soul, so the soul of Christ, from the dawning of intelligence, was unimpeded by sin and compatible with holiness and purity. His appreciation for God’s character naturally lent to communion with Him, constant and ever deepening, as His mind developed and matured.
As the second Adam, Christ reveals to us the life of the first Adam. Adam’s communion with God was equally perfect and unbroken. From the day of his creation and introduction to the wonder-filled garden Christ had prepared for him, Adam grew in appreciation and ardor for his Creator-Father. So deep was his love for his Benefactor and Life-giver and so perfectly did he reflect that love, that Adam is aptly described in scripture as a being of love—a living soul. And his praises of unclouded gratitude redounded and echoed throughout his garden home, and way beyond.
This was the Lord God’s beloved son in whom He was well pleased. Yet Adam came to see a discrepancy. The rest of creation had life mates. Shouldn’t he also have one? Imagine the greater happiness with some other creature on the same level of intelligence, communing together in the same language. It was within just a short time that he came to this conclusion, indicating his new observation skills and the child’s heart yearning for ever greater fellowship.
The next moment, being presented to him was HER, his companion! A being different but yet the same! Not exactly what he thought of, but exactly what he wanted and needed. Adam’s communion with Christ was perfect before the woman came along. Now it got even more perfect!
Hindsight what it is, it was a risk for the Lord God to divide Adam’s love for Himself with the one for whom Adam had asked; but God is a risk taker. He knew the minds and hearts He had made, that the investment in Eve would not decrease Adam’s love for Him but rather expand Adam’s faculties and increase his appreciation and deepen his love for His Father-Friend.
Woman came forth to life into a family already made for her. She was ready to support her life mate in all his endeavors and to join with him in worship and thanksgiving. Beside her greatest happiness in serving God, serving Adam and pleasing him brought the highest happiness, and Adam’s chiefest joy was in protecting and loving this astonishing finale of God’s creative ability. They were the perfect couple, tailor-made just for each other, inseparable; joined at the hip, as it were. “This is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.”
What God had joined together put the finishing touch on a busy week of bringing this lovely and amazing world of ours to life. And as the angels passed to Earth to train that newborn couple, the doubts that plagued them slowly began to ebb. The massive controversy that had already begun for them and the incomprehensible allegations against God and the laws of His government, accusations with which the angelic hosts had had no experience, began to melt away into renewed trust in the eternal Father, thrilling again in His perfect love, unselfishness and infinite wisdom in requiring a high standard and perfect loyalty from His creatures in response to His everlasting love toward them. This amazing experiment on the new planet gave birth to a deeper love for God as the angels witnessed the beautiful couple, uninvolved with the insurrection and unbiased toward the claims of Lucifer, but reveling in unabashed happiness and glory to God for all His kindness toward them. Surely God’s Law is good, thought the angels! Truly our God is wonderful!
As Lucifer saw the real object for the creation of Earth, that it was the project of the secret councils of the Godhead from which he had been barred, and as he witnessed the grounds for his revolution rapidly crumbling, he realized that there was only one solution and strategy. With all the savvy and wily connivances he could muster, he must destroy this new thorn in his side along with its inhabitants as quickly as possible…
The woman chose the exhileration of self-indulgence over the settled peace of obedience to her Creator. Adam struggled. It was a horrible moment, but he chose to throw out his supreme love for God and faith in His goodness in preference for his intoxicated wife in her flushed, unnatural excitement.
As soon as the angels caught the news of the fall of man, they were thrown into confusion greater than during the great controversy before the new creation. Could Lucifer be right after all? In testing the new couple, he had just demonstrated his main underlying charge against God, that the freedoms of faith and loving obedience to God’s laws were a flimsy constitution to support a government for the universe. The government which Lucifer proposed, one of freedom from forced law, self-government without any external restraints, and righteous indignation toward anything so unstable as humble obedience to love, was, as he protested, the only truly enduring principle and foundation for any government, universal or local. “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” Rev. 13:6. “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice (the continuous peace under God’s government) was taken away and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:10-12.
Again the loyal angelic kingdom was shaken to shivers. Almost half of the original hosts of heaven had already sided with Lucifer during the great divide. Would more defect now? And how can we ever again have that sweet, blissful, undisturbed peace we used to have before the King had been contested? What do we do with Lucifer’s charges against God’s intentions, as he called it, God’s agenda to subjugate His creation in subconscious slavery. While he could show no real proof of this, could it be true?
The Godhead never once spoke to justify Themselves. That would only have given Lucifer firepower that could have been the loss of more angels loyal to the current Administration. In spite of certain extended pain and doubts, nothing could be done to salvage the kingdom of heaven but to allow the rebellion to take its course. Thus the consequences of sin would become the very firmest argument against rebellion to God and His principles of righteousness.
Adam and his wife stood fearfully ashamed, but contaminated. Their fear of repulsion by their Creator-Father weighed heavily. They could never, ever again experience the joy of perfect innocence and acceptance. Without that they were ready and willing to be blotted out of existence. There was no further purpose to live. Ignorant of the real results of their disobedience, they had destroyed God’s design in winning back full allegiance and trust in His family throughout the illimitable bounds of heaven. What that special couple had done, by not withstanding the temptation of Satan, was no small thing. Its ramifications reached to the very depts of the issues of truth and falsehood, self-sacrificing love and self-indulgence, eternal institutions versus temporary façades. So heavily had God invested in Earth that their desertion to powerful and persuasive Lucifer brought a great blow to God and havoc in His children throughout His universe.
But destruction was not to be. Their lives were to be spared and communion was to be restored through a plan from the Administration they had spurned. Their sorrow and despairing of life was counted acceptable, and God would be gracious by giving them a period of probation. Though weakened by self-indulgence, should they remain faithful to the law of righteousness and trusting in God’s love and grace for them, though they would die at the end of the probationary period as the consequence of disobedience, they would have a place in the kingdom when it would be won back from Lucifer. The arraignment before the court of all heaven and the sentence against them for punishment—unutterable pain until the extinction of life—had been spared them because their Creator, the Prince of heaven, had assumed that horrifying fate for Himself.
The Commander of heaven, as the second Adam, would come and live the human experience to exonerate His Father, the high privilege Adam could have had, but failed; and then before returning to His heavenly home, the Son of God would suffer the punishment owed to Adam and his family. Thus, the Son would save not only Adam and his descendents from sin, but also the loyal angelic hosts from their distressing doubts, and lastly, but greatest of all, He would save His own Father from the torture of sin and of the rebellion, and the threat of losing more children to it. The royal Prince would temporarily assume the control of Heaven and Earth, as advocate and intermediary between His Father and His Father’s weakened creation. Then through unreserved surrender and obedience, even to death, He would restore God’s disrupted kingdom of peace to its original splendor. “And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” 1Cor. 15:28.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:14, 15.
As the second Adam, Christ reveals to us the life of the first Adam. Adam’s communion with God was equally perfect and unbroken. From the day of his creation and introduction to the wonder-filled garden Christ had prepared for him, Adam grew in appreciation and ardor for his Creator-Father. So deep was his love for his Benefactor and Life-giver and so perfectly did he reflect that love, that Adam is aptly described in scripture as a being of love—a living soul. And his praises of unclouded gratitude redounded and echoed throughout his garden home, and way beyond.
This was the Lord God’s beloved son in whom He was well pleased. Yet Adam came to see a discrepancy. The rest of creation had life mates. Shouldn’t he also have one? Imagine the greater happiness with some other creature on the same level of intelligence, communing together in the same language. It was within just a short time that he came to this conclusion, indicating his new observation skills and the child’s heart yearning for ever greater fellowship.
The next moment, being presented to him was HER, his companion! A being different but yet the same! Not exactly what he thought of, but exactly what he wanted and needed. Adam’s communion with Christ was perfect before the woman came along. Now it got even more perfect!
Hindsight what it is, it was a risk for the Lord God to divide Adam’s love for Himself with the one for whom Adam had asked; but God is a risk taker. He knew the minds and hearts He had made, that the investment in Eve would not decrease Adam’s love for Him but rather expand Adam’s faculties and increase his appreciation and deepen his love for His Father-Friend.
Woman came forth to life into a family already made for her. She was ready to support her life mate in all his endeavors and to join with him in worship and thanksgiving. Beside her greatest happiness in serving God, serving Adam and pleasing him brought the highest happiness, and Adam’s chiefest joy was in protecting and loving this astonishing finale of God’s creative ability. They were the perfect couple, tailor-made just for each other, inseparable; joined at the hip, as it were. “This is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.”
What God had joined together put the finishing touch on a busy week of bringing this lovely and amazing world of ours to life. And as the angels passed to Earth to train that newborn couple, the doubts that plagued them slowly began to ebb. The massive controversy that had already begun for them and the incomprehensible allegations against God and the laws of His government, accusations with which the angelic hosts had had no experience, began to melt away into renewed trust in the eternal Father, thrilling again in His perfect love, unselfishness and infinite wisdom in requiring a high standard and perfect loyalty from His creatures in response to His everlasting love toward them. This amazing experiment on the new planet gave birth to a deeper love for God as the angels witnessed the beautiful couple, uninvolved with the insurrection and unbiased toward the claims of Lucifer, but reveling in unabashed happiness and glory to God for all His kindness toward them. Surely God’s Law is good, thought the angels! Truly our God is wonderful!
As Lucifer saw the real object for the creation of Earth, that it was the project of the secret councils of the Godhead from which he had been barred, and as he witnessed the grounds for his revolution rapidly crumbling, he realized that there was only one solution and strategy. With all the savvy and wily connivances he could muster, he must destroy this new thorn in his side along with its inhabitants as quickly as possible…
The woman chose the exhileration of self-indulgence over the settled peace of obedience to her Creator. Adam struggled. It was a horrible moment, but he chose to throw out his supreme love for God and faith in His goodness in preference for his intoxicated wife in her flushed, unnatural excitement.
As soon as the angels caught the news of the fall of man, they were thrown into confusion greater than during the great controversy before the new creation. Could Lucifer be right after all? In testing the new couple, he had just demonstrated his main underlying charge against God, that the freedoms of faith and loving obedience to God’s laws were a flimsy constitution to support a government for the universe. The government which Lucifer proposed, one of freedom from forced law, self-government without any external restraints, and righteous indignation toward anything so unstable as humble obedience to love, was, as he protested, the only truly enduring principle and foundation for any government, universal or local. “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” Rev. 13:6. “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice (the continuous peace under God’s government) was taken away and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:10-12.
Again the loyal angelic kingdom was shaken to shivers. Almost half of the original hosts of heaven had already sided with Lucifer during the great divide. Would more defect now? And how can we ever again have that sweet, blissful, undisturbed peace we used to have before the King had been contested? What do we do with Lucifer’s charges against God’s intentions, as he called it, God’s agenda to subjugate His creation in subconscious slavery. While he could show no real proof of this, could it be true?
The Godhead never once spoke to justify Themselves. That would only have given Lucifer firepower that could have been the loss of more angels loyal to the current Administration. In spite of certain extended pain and doubts, nothing could be done to salvage the kingdom of heaven but to allow the rebellion to take its course. Thus the consequences of sin would become the very firmest argument against rebellion to God and His principles of righteousness.
Adam and his wife stood fearfully ashamed, but contaminated. Their fear of repulsion by their Creator-Father weighed heavily. They could never, ever again experience the joy of perfect innocence and acceptance. Without that they were ready and willing to be blotted out of existence. There was no further purpose to live. Ignorant of the real results of their disobedience, they had destroyed God’s design in winning back full allegiance and trust in His family throughout the illimitable bounds of heaven. What that special couple had done, by not withstanding the temptation of Satan, was no small thing. Its ramifications reached to the very depts of the issues of truth and falsehood, self-sacrificing love and self-indulgence, eternal institutions versus temporary façades. So heavily had God invested in Earth that their desertion to powerful and persuasive Lucifer brought a great blow to God and havoc in His children throughout His universe.
But destruction was not to be. Their lives were to be spared and communion was to be restored through a plan from the Administration they had spurned. Their sorrow and despairing of life was counted acceptable, and God would be gracious by giving them a period of probation. Though weakened by self-indulgence, should they remain faithful to the law of righteousness and trusting in God’s love and grace for them, though they would die at the end of the probationary period as the consequence of disobedience, they would have a place in the kingdom when it would be won back from Lucifer. The arraignment before the court of all heaven and the sentence against them for punishment—unutterable pain until the extinction of life—had been spared them because their Creator, the Prince of heaven, had assumed that horrifying fate for Himself.
The Commander of heaven, as the second Adam, would come and live the human experience to exonerate His Father, the high privilege Adam could have had, but failed; and then before returning to His heavenly home, the Son of God would suffer the punishment owed to Adam and his family. Thus, the Son would save not only Adam and his descendents from sin, but also the loyal angelic hosts from their distressing doubts, and lastly, but greatest of all, He would save His own Father from the torture of sin and of the rebellion, and the threat of losing more children to it. The royal Prince would temporarily assume the control of Heaven and Earth, as advocate and intermediary between His Father and His Father’s weakened creation. Then through unreserved surrender and obedience, even to death, He would restore God’s disrupted kingdom of peace to its original splendor. “And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” 1Cor. 15:28.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:14, 15.
posted by David | 6:25 PM
1 Comments:
The story of the fall and redemption of man is very moving.
Thank God Jesus was willing to come and take our punishment!
Blessings to you! :o)
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