A DISCLAIMER (of sorts): First, most of this is a reprint of something I'd posted in another thread. Second, I'd been praying about another topic and this idea was part of the answer to that other question. I'm sharing it because Jesus said "What you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops". Just this one little piece kind of rocked my world. Let me know what you think. And as always...Love in Jesus to you. -Kelby
Before presenting any proof that death was active before sin, I first ask you to consider... "
Do you think death is different, or the same, for people vs. animals vs. plants?". (Please decide on your current answer before continuing... Thanks)
If death is death, no matter whether it is a plant , animal, or human body… then proving it in one proves it in the all the others. If death is different in each grouping, then it can still be proven that death was active (at least in one group) prior to sin.
The proof is in Genesis 1 (which is prior to even the mention of the tree of knowledge of good and evil).
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Did you see it? (I posted it in context and am providing this interruption for those who want to find it before it is explained. ... You're welcome
)
It’s in verses 29 and 30. God gave every herb as meat for man (and beast).
Have you ever eaten (or watched someone eat) a small onion or a bean sprout? Probably.
Have you ever eaten that same small onion or bean sprout without killing it? No.
That is death built right into the creation/life structure and put there by God’s own mouth, as part of a sinless system.
And if you need another example, or don’t believe that “death” is applicable to plants, consider what Jesus said….
John_12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby