When Adam and Eve were created they were unique in many ways. First, they were allowed to eat from the tree of life and thus could experience immortality. Second, they were not created through the normal birth process but Adam was supernaturally created from the dust of the ground and Eve was created from the side (rib) of Adam. And third until they disobeyed God they had not committed sin and were able to enjoy unique fellowship with Him.
However, when they did sin, they spiritually died, would later die physically, and everyone born after them inherited a sin nature. And thus began the road from creation by God to redemption by God. And while the creation of man was special, I contend that the redemption of man was even more wonderous.
The brilliant seventeenth century Puritan pastor, Thomas Watson, elegantly and insightfully shared a stunning glimpse into the creation/redemption comparison when he stated: “Great was the work of creation, but greater was the work of redemption. Great wisdom was seen in making us—but more miraculous wisdom in saving us. Great power was seen in bringing us out of nothing—but greater power in helping us when we were worse than nothing. In the creation, God gave us ourselves; in the redemption, He gave us Himself.”1
After reading over Watson’s quote several times, as great as God’s act of creation is, I can see why he elevated redemption by God to an even higher plane. Among Watson’s reasons, three stand out showing why the work of redemption is so utterly glorious – even surpassing God’s work of creation.
These three reasons are:
“It cost more to redeem us than to create us. In the creation there was but ‘speaking a word,’ (Ps. 148:5). In the redeeming us, there was shedding of blood (1 Pet. 1:19).”
“By creation, we have a life in Adam; by redemption, we have a life in Christ (Col. 3:3).”
“By creation, we had a right to an earthly paradise; by redemption, we have a title to a heavenly kingdom.”2
In closing I would like to leave you with a similar comparison concerning two gardens: Eden, the garden of creation and Gethsemane, the garden of redemption. Popular Christian author Max Lucado shared the following: “The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and Gethsemane. In the first, Adam took a fall. In the second, Jesus took a stand. In the first, God sought Adam. In the second, Jesus sought God. In Eden, Adam hid from God. In Gethsemane, Jesus emerged from the tomb. In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death. From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.”3
1 Quote by Thomas Watson: “Great was the work of creation, but greater was…” (goodreads.com)
2 He Gave Us Himself (gleniris.net)
3 Quote by Max Lucado: “The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and…” (goodreads.com)