Living In The Light

July 13, Work Appointed In Love

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
—Proverbs 3:11 LL 207.1

Under the curse of sin all nature was to witness to human beings of the character and results of rebellion against God. When God made human beings He made them rule over the earth and all living creatures. So long as Adam remained loyal to Heaven, all nature was in subjection to him. But when he rebelled against the divine law, the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule. Thus the Lord, in His great mercy, would show men and women the sacredness of His law, and lead them, by their own experience, to see the danger of setting it aside, even in the slightest degree. LL 207.2

And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be humanity’s lot was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by their sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to develop habits of self-control. It was a part of God’s great plan of humanity’s recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin. LL 207.3

The warning given to our first parents—“In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17)—did not imply that they were to die on the very day when they partook of the forbidden fruit. But on that day the irrevocable sentence would be pronounced. Immortality was promised them on condition of obedience; by transgression they would forfeit eternal life. That very day they would be doomed to death. LL 207.4

In order to possess an endless existence, human beings must continue to partake of the tree of life. Deprived of this, their vitality would gradually diminish until life should become extinct. It was Satan’s plan that Adam and Eve should by disobedience incur God’s displeasure; and then, if they failed to obtain forgiveness, he hoped that they would eat of the tree of life, and thus perpetuate an existence of sin and misery. But after humanity’s fall, holy angels were immediately commissioned to guard the tree of life. Around these angels flashed beams of light having the appearance of a glittering sword. None of the family of Adam were permitted to pass the barrier to partake of the life-giving fruit; hence there is not an immortal sinner.— Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 59, 60. LL 207.5

Further Reflection: When has God’s disciplining of you proved to be a blessing? LL 207.6