Let’s look in some detail at the intended relationship between God and mankind. The context of this loving relationship is that of a Father and a son, a parent and a child. Ephesians 1:5 (NASB) states, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” Luke chapter 3 – the genealogy of Jesus – describes Adam as the “son of God.”
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed daily fellowship with their heavenly Father. (Genesis 3:8) We don’t know how long they lived there with God, in perfect oneness with Him, fellow-shipping spirit to Spirit. We don’t know how long they derived their identity and understood reality from their heavenly Father as He met with them each day. In this pure form of existence, Adam and Eve’s spirits received understanding from their heavenly Father and therefore defined their reality according to God’s perspective.
Their souls were, in turn, functioning in designed perfect harmony, submitted to and being informed by their spirits. Their actions in time and space – toward God, toward each other, and toward the creation they were ruling – were a tangible, visible manifestation of their identities as sons / or children of God, as well as representative of their understanding of reality, as revealed to them by God.
One day, they were offered the choice to “be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 NKJV) When they chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “the eyes of both of them were opened.” (Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:6-7) We know that their spiritual eyes were already open – they were daily walking face to face with God in the garden. We can ascertain that their physical eyes were also already open because they could see the trees and the fruit. So, when scripture says “the eyes of both of them were opened,” I believe this refers to the eyes of their soul being opened.
As a result, their souls were no longer submitted to or receiving understanding from their spirits. In this choice to be disobedient to their Father’s instruction, they abdicated their identity as sons of God. Consequently, their method for defining reality changed. No longer viewing themselves as sons / or children of God, their identity (mindset) was now that of an orphan.
The perspective of an orphan encompasses the ever present need to provide for oneself and to protect oneself. All analysis and synthesis of information passes through the filters of these twin prerogatives. Adam and Eve’s reality was then based upon analyzing present circumstances, comparing this to events of the past, and anticipating future outcomes (the scientific hypothesis). Choosing to be independent of their heavenly Father, they then believed and operated from the perspective that their survival was dependent upon their own efforts.
As I sit with these thoughts, it occurs to me that both Jesus’ answer to the disciples (in John 6:29) about the work of the Kingdom, as well as the writer in Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 (writing about rest) both focused upon the priority of belief. What we believe – about God and about ourselves – drives what we think about, which then fosters how we feel about both God and ourselves. These beliefs and thoughts result in an outcome of what we say as well as the actions that we take.
This process within our minds occurs moment by moment, day by day. Ultimately our mindset is fed by the bedrock foundation of our belief. We are either having our minds renewed as we walk reconciled with God in a loving parent / child relationship; or we are independently processing – as orphans.
As a child trusts a loving parent, this child feels secure. The little one believes his/her needs will be met. There is rest and comfort in the security of this healthy relationship. In contrast, an orphan has no such security, comfort, or trust. As a result, the orphan is left with the belief that one must fend for oneself – creating an ever present undercurrent of fear for provision and protection.
It is important at this juncture to note that one may have an orphan mindset, regardless of biological family circumstances. Mindset is determined by individual choice based upon beliefs, not by the presence of or lack of external / physical circumstances.
Back to Adam and Eve…. Their new definition of reality – that of an orphan mindset – established fertile ground for the world systems and schemes that Satan and his ranks brought to the world when they were cast out from the presence of God. (More on this later, from 1 John 2:16)
At some point in history, angels (led by Satan) rebelled against God and were cast out of the presence of God. This change in the ranks of the angelic beings led to the creation of a world culture in which these beings no longer operated in their intended capacity to serve the sons of God (Hebrews 1:14).
They instead spun a new culture of systems and schemes that serve to entrap the human soul, attempting to prevent any authentic connection to the Father in heaven.
God’s original intent for the creation of mankind was to experience a loving relationship with His children – for Him to love us, and for us to love Him in return.
The resulting family is one that grows up in Him – in His household. These heirs become mature sons and daughters that represent Him well, so that He may be seen, known, and understood within the arena of time and space.
