God said, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.” When Adam ate of the tree they didn’t die that day. But that day their death was assured. God explained that life in the presence of sin would be hard. In time they realized death was a gracious blessing. Enough is enough. But in their remaining days they came to realize that with everything else God had provided He provided a way back. There was a way to turn a disaster into a detour.
It is a privilege to have been born – even to this sick world. We have time to grow up, to learn, to accept God’s provision of salvation and ongoing life (or not), to expand the field of relationships with children and pass to rest. We may enter this rest, this death with hope, hope that God recovers and remembers.
However, Death comes in two flavors. “…the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” John 5:28, 29. “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power” Revelation 20:6. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” Revelation 21:7, 8.
Note the language “second death.” This is death. This death is permanent. This is NOT eternal life in flaming agony. I have heard some scoff at the idea of annihilation of the wicked, of anyone. Just remember, “you shall not surely die” was stated by the deceiver. Though Adam bought into Satan’s ideas, God provided a way for Adam and his offspring to recover and have the sentence commuted. In grace God provided death as the escape from the wages of, the inherent pains and consequences of sin. But He also provided a way to escape from sin and recover life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21.
There are many ways the invitation is extended to you to accept His offer of life and not face the second death.