The marvelous love of God was demonstrated at that moment. God brought decay on their human bodies and drove His two children out of the garden, posting a sentry to guard the way of the tree of life. God did this with the intention of providing a Redeemer who could reverse the damage done by Satan. The creation was made subject to corruption and futility against its will. It was God who subjected the creation to decay in the hope that one day the material creation can be released into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

The material creation remains bound in prison. Its spiritual life is gone. The creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God, for those who, through Christ, have obtained release themselves and can bring that release to all who call on the name of the Lord.

The sons of God cannot be released themselves until through the Lord Jesus Christ a ruling spiritual personality has been developed in them; a personality that is righteous with the righteousness of God's own Nature, holy with the holiness of God's own Nature, and obedient to God with the very obedience that is in the Person of Christ. Iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father are created in us as we, through the Spirit of God, follow Christ and learn our necessary lessons.

As soon as the sons of God have been perfected, Christ will come and raise their bodies. Their bodies will receive glory in terms of their spiritual development. Then the sons of God will be permitted to go through the material creation, setting it free according to the wisdom of God that is in them. Then the morning stars will sing together once more. Then the sons of God will shout for joy again.

At that time Paradise will return to the earth.

That will be the time of restoration, of redemption, spoken of by the Prophets, the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

When we began our Christian walk the Lord Jesus raised us up into the heavenlies. Our life now is hidden with Christ in God. But it is an embryonic life, a foretaste of what will come if we continue in Christ.

We have been grasped for the fullness of life and glory. Whether we attain that for which we have been grasped depends on our perseverance in Christ.

Every aspect of redemption is an opportunity, not an assured accomplishment.

The crown of life and glory has been set before us. In order to establish what Christ so freely and lovingly has given us we must respond by turning from the world, laying down our life, taking up our cross, and following the Lord Jesus. If we will do this there is no authority or power in Heaven, on the earth, or under the earth, that can prevent us from attaining the fullness of our inheritance as a son of God.

But if we do not turn away from the world, do not lay down our life, do not take up our cross, do not follow the Lord Jesus, choosing instead to follow our own path, then our talent, our crown, will be given to another who has been more faithful to Christ. We will not escape the anger of Christ if we neglect our salvation, our inheritance.

The birthright was Esau's by the right of the firstborn, but Esau sold his birthright for food, for that which satisfies the immediate demands of the body.

Let us not sell our inheritance for immediate satisfaction, as did Esau but rather press forward to our own release—and then on to the release of the entire material creation. (from The Release of the Material Creation)