Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”

Today is beginning as a day when it feels like I am a step behind and catching up.   However, I reject the temptation to shortcut or cut short my needed routine of beginnings. I will honor God, not the clock.

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I saw things I had never seen in the way I saw them.   I won’t address all of that, but what rose like a mountain before me was Eve’s encounter with the sneaky snake and God’s initial directive to Adam & Eve.

The directive was Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”   Do you see the magnitude of that directive and objective?   It is Impossible without verses 27 and 28. Created, ordained, anointed, appointed, and blessed (empowered).

This creation (Eve) met the snake in the garden.  This one with rulership authority over all, including the snake, met the master manipulator.  God’s prohibition was one tree.  He said (verses 16-17) – “Eat from this prohibited tree and die.”   The Hebrew is “in dying you will die.”

Death was a foreign concept, but if we consider or understand death as separation, not extinction, we see that they could understand.  Physical death is separation from the earth.  Spiritual death is separation from God. Not extinction but separation.

The snake subtly asked, “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the Garden?”  He knew that was not what God said but was planting the seed of a question of being deprived of something good.

He was partially truthful in describing what would happen. Separation from God’s peace, purpose, and presence occurred, resulting in real death.  Death that would be in the DNA of their lineage. Death that would require a Redeemer to restore us.

A break in fellowship through disobedience is a kind of death. In dying, you will die!  We, too, will succumb to the deception and manipulation of the snake if we fail to keep our focus on God and our assignment.

The early chapters of the Book of Acts give us a pattern and pathway to perseverance and peace.  Acts 2:42-47 should be studied and adopted as a lifestyle.  They became The Body of Christ. It was not a ritual but a relationship!

Lord, help us realize the purpose, power, and authority we have IN Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Help us to be and do that!