THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL

THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL

1 – The first vital center deals with (Survivor(- Fear)

Survivor – The survivor is one of two or more designated persons, as joint tenants or others having a joint interest, who outlives the other or others. Adam heard the sound of the Lord’s footsteps in the garden and was afraid because he was naked, so he hid among the Garden trees. (Genesis 3:10). Adam was invaded by the emotion of fear and tried to survive the death penalty for having eaten the prohibited fruit. He did it with his own willpower, hiding among the trees. In doing so, with his own willpower, Adam activated the unconscious animal limbic system. In the long, Adam lived in a fallen state, eating from the fruit of the good-evil tree and away from his Creator, and his brain suffered physical changes. His DNA mutated because the fountain of life, the source of the brain’s neurons energy, diminished, and his brain shrinks, and its ability to process information was damaged. When this happens, the astrocytes that regulate and maintain the brain’s neurons working properly are diminished, and everything in impulse control, stress management, and information processing is damaged. That is why the prophet said: “Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. There is no soundness in the sole of the foot even to the head, but bruises, sores, and raw wounds; they are not pressed out, bound up, or softened with oil.” (Isaiah 1:6).

The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:21-32 says: “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things.

 Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

 For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those contrary to nature, the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. They are gossips,  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,  foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.  Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. 

Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion responding to perceiving or recognizing danger or threat. The couple in the Garden of Eden was seized by fear when they heard the Lord’s footsteps walking in the garden on a cool day.  And the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God's presence among the garden's trees. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to oneself. The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to a confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response.

 

This disobedience to the Supreme Law in the Garden disconnects all communication with the “Cosmic Energy” source. That energy governs the functioning of the cosmos and is present in the galaxies, space, atoms, and everywhere. Is present in the Macrocosm, the Universe, and in the microcosm, every one of us. Everything is filled with that Cosmic Energy, the Light Spirit of God. The Psalmist says: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there, your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Salmos 139:7-10).

 

 

2- The second vital center deals with (Pleasure-Guilt)

Pleasure is enjoyment, happiness, satisfaction, or something that makes you want that emotion to never pass. “So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6).  “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4).

 Guilt – Guilt is a feeling of worry or unhappiness because you have done something wrong, such as causing harm to another person. The fact of having done something wrong or committed a crime.

“The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:13). Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord God.” (Jeremiah 2:22). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

 3- The third vital center deals with (Willpower-Shame) 

Willpower -