Choose blessing or death? What an absurd concept! Why would anyone want to choose death over blessing? No one would and yet everyone did. Paul wrote, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12 NKJ) Paul stated that “all sinned” in Adam when Adam sinned. As Paul stated later in Romans 6:23, “For the wages [or result] of sin is death.” The result of sin is separation from God in some way.

When Adam sinned, he died spiritually from God. He was still living, but spiritually, he was separated from God’s presence and blessing. Adam was the “federal representative” of all men (cf. Rom. 5:12) and all sinned when Adam sinned. Therefore everyone chose death instead of blessing. That is what man does in the flesh, when he is not controlled by the Spirit.

How is that choice seen from the beginning of creation? God made it clear to Adam, prior to the fall that he had a choice to make.  He could either choose to freely eat from any tree, except one, and enjoy blessing. Or, the day he ate from the one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would surely die. That is the parallel Hebrew construction in Genesis 2:16 and 17.

Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21) wrote the Pentateuch.  He wrote in Genesis 2:16-17,

¹⁶ And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;

¹⁷ “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:16-17 NKJ)

They had a choice: they could freely eat [from any tree except one], or they would surely die [if they ate of that one tree]. The Hebrew verb construction is very similar in both verses. In blessing, God wants me to enjoy myself “while in my humanity,” and it’s reflective of enjoying His presence.  When I have not repented from my sin as a Christian [when I am carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-3)], God removes blessing and I experience the end of blessing, separation from the presence of God and nothing of the relationship that God intends.  The question is do I know that I’m not experiencing His presence, or am I just going along in life (in sin) and I do not realize His blessing is gone? If His blessing is gone, I am experientially separated from His empowerment and presence of blessing.  I am still alive, but I do not enjoy the fullness of His presence.

Friends, have you chosen blessing or not? Are you humbly enjoying the presence of the Lord.  David said it best, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps. 16:11 NKJ)