Many of us place a tree in our homes this month, decorating it with colorful ornaments and lights. And, of course, gifts will be set beneath the tree, waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. What would Christmas be without the iconic Christmas tree!

In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Eve willfully took something from that tree and changed the course of human destiny and history. Satan misled Eve to challenge the truth of God’s Word—“You won’t die!” (Genesis 3:4), created discontent in her heart that God was withholding something better from her (v.5), and convinced her to eat the fruit so that she would “be like God” (Geneis 3:5-7). Die?

Adam and Eve had no idea what dying meant. Death for human beings was ushered in by their sin. And from that time forward, we have experienced death—both spiritual and physical. Adam and Eve were asked by God to explain their actions (Genesis 3:8-13). Satan was not, because he had no second chance for redemption. Consider the three orders of God’s creation—angels, the universe, and human beings. God had already destined all the evil angels— including Satan—to hell (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). God will destroy the earth and re-create a new earth (2 Peter 3:7,13; Revelation 21:1). But only people will be redeemed and saved (Hebrews 2:16; 1 Peter 1:12), because they’re precious to God (Psalm 8:3-5; Job 7:17).

The clothes they made for themselves (Genesis 3:7) could not cover their guilt. So God made them clothing from animal skins (Genesis 3:21). As blood flowed for the very first time, they had a taste of the horrors of death. It was the first dramatic illustration of the ultimate cost to be paid at Calvary, for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).