Leckieville Freewill Baptist Church

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Beyond the Sunset 

2/26/06 Brother Lee Dotson

One of the most precise things God has given us to enjoy is the beauty of watching a sunset, as the sun slowly goes down over the mountains and the bright colors of the sun hits the blue sky there is no other beauty like it. It makes me curious of how that it was in the beginning when God had created the earth and all its splendor. 

God had created a creation which He described was very good, but apparently not good enough for his special creation man. The bible instructs us that God planted a garden for man to dwell. When I think of a "garden" two thoughts come to my mind: beauty and provision. Some gardens are planted simply for the beauty. God did not simply place man in a beautiful environment and left him with nothing to do. Instead, He gave Adam the responsibility of tending the garden. Although this was before the curse and there were no weeds or pests to worry about, he was needed to cultivate the land for the plants of the field and the herbs. Also, he needs to prune the fruit bearing plants from their lush growth. 

Inside the garden, the bible specifically informs us that God placed two special trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One tree, the Tree of Life represented the possibility and the reality of eternal life. He that ate of that tree could live forever. God blessed Adam by giving him full access to the Tree of Life. 

On the other hand, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represented Man's Free Choice. When God created man. He gave Adam a free will, an opportunity to make decisions for himself. This is one of the characteristics that separates man from the rest of the animal kingdom. Man lives by the decisions he makes. Animals depend simply on their instincts. God warned him that on the day that ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil he would surely die.