'Appreciating God's Love'
A) Man in the Likeness of God
Gen 5:1-2 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
God created man in His likeness with the divine love within the Godhead and the love for the Creator.
So Adam and Eve loved one another just as the Triune Godhead loves One Another. Adam and Eve also loved God just as God loves His children.
God loved Adam and Eve very much and in return they loved God as much, and they looked forward to their blissful fellowships every evening. Love in 1Cor 13:4-7 was found and practiced in the fellowships between Adam and Eve and their fellowships with God.
To Adam and Eve then, heaven was on earth for over a hundred years until they were chased out from the garden of Eden.
I Cor 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
B) Blissful Time for the Father
I John 3:1-2 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
God was delighted to see Adam and Eve working in harmony and in love doing His task of naming and dominating all living creatures. They made the burden easier for the other by sacrificing oneself. They risked themselves willingly and joyfully for the safety of the other.
Whenever one of them fell from the tree or animal's back, God would take this opportunity to carry them and hugged them with great joy. God is looking for every opportunity to hug and love us. He loves to be in contact with us for He loves us more than we love our beloving and obedient children.
I remembered that during my early years when I was starting companies after companies, the burdens were great. But when I went home and held my new born son, all my fears, burdens and problems just vanished into thin air. The blissful moment of holding my son in my arms filled my soul with His pure love, which cast out all fears.
Today, holding the OA tiny tots in my arms gives me great joy and serenity, just as though I am in my Father's arms.
I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
C) Blissful Time for Adam and Eve
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Adam and Eve loved each other and their most important work is not only to name and dominate the living creatures but to ensure that they pleased God and loved one another with His perfect love.
Adam and Eve were blissful for each lived their lives for the benefit, pleasure and happiness of the other. They cared and loved one another more than their own lives.
God expects Christians to live in unity and love one another just like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Perfect Love Lost by Adam
Gen 5:3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Adam and Eve enjoyed their blissful lives for over a hundred years and after their fall, they were chased out from the garden of Eden. Having lost the perfect love of God, Adam's descendants were all born into his depraved image of sin and wickedness until they are born again into God's image through Christ Jesus.
