The Bible begins with these words in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

As we read this scripture, our minds naturally think of the material, physical heavens and the earth, but we must remember that all of creation came out of God, and therefore it must have been “Spirit” in the beginning. So we are looking at the picture from God’s point of view, which must be different to what we now consider with our natural mind. All of Creation was brought forth out of the substance of spirit. This must include Man, for we are a part of creation.

In the Bible the main use of darkness is in contrast to light. Light is the symbol of God's purity, wisdom and glory, while darkness signifies that those things are missing. It is also important to understand that the darkness spoken of is said to be upon the “Face of the deep.” This word “Deep” is very interesting for it refers to the “Deep recesses of the mind in man,” which we refer to as our consciousness, or the “Sub Conscious Mind.”

We are a spirit being, but we can have no sense of our true “Consciousness,” unless we possessed a faculty that could embrace a knowledge of that which is invisible. This is not possible using our Natural Mind, for it has no capacity to discern that which is spirit. The only reality our natural mind can grasp is observed through the five natural senses, which are, Sight, Hearing, Touch, Smell and Taste. Therefore most people are convinced that they are simply Mortal Human Beings, for their mind cannot grasp any knowledge of that which is spirit. So the generally accepted concept among “Christians” is that I have a BODY and I have SOUL and a SPIRIT.

However the Soul and the Spirit are just “Words” that for most people are not defined. No one has seen a Soul, what size it is, or what color it is, or what shape it is. We have the same problem with the spirit because it is invisible, and so our only way to interpret these things through our limited mind function is by way of our IMAGINATION, which is our personal human form of Disney Land. So the scripture speaks of a “Darkness” that covered the “DEEP,” which is that area of our being that would allow us to interpret both that which is SEEN as well as the UNSEEN.

This is brought to our attention right at the beginning of the Bible but for so many these words have no significant meaning for us today. However, we are confronted with the truth that mankind is not living and functioning as he was created in the beginning. The first man in Genesis 1:26-27 was pure spirit, with no mention of a form or a body as we would understand. But that man began to reproduce immediately according to the command of the Father. He was told to, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” So in Genesis 2:7 we find this“ Spirit Man” bringing forth a manifestation of himself, but now providing him with a FORM or a Body made from the dust of the earth. In our human-ness, we consider the Body to be of little value because of the fact that it came from the dust. But that dust came out of God and so it was a part of the spirit substance of God himself, and is no less valuable than anything else that is a part of creation.

This man was placed in a Garden that was specifically designed for him by his creator God. That Garden represented the place where he could enjoy communion and fellowship with God. But more than this, for it also provided everything that the man needed to sustain his life that came from God. Of course the Garden of Eden was never a “literal garden” that was planted on the physical material earth. At this point in the history of the events of the “Beginning,” there was no such earth, for everything was spirit. Our imagination has added so much to the divine account, so that we believe that the Garden of Eden is still around somewhere, perhaps up in the Sky, and we call it HEAVEN.

Christians even speak about a return to Eden as if it were a literal place to which we could go. The truth is that the “Garden” does exist, but not in the physical world. It is a spiritual place found within the Man God created in the beginning, where we can enjoy fellowship and communion with our heavenly Father. In the building of the Tabernacle God said to Moses, “And you shall make two Cherubim of gold, of beaten work shall thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.”

“And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim, which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all that I will give you in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

The Garden of Eden provides us with the setting in which we can enjoy fellowship with the Lord, but it is the Ark of the Covenant that provides us with the fundamental basis of our communion with the Father. Everything that would be a part of our calling in Christ was represented in the design and detail of the Tabernacle, so we could better understand these things through the visible representation that was given to Israel. However, very few seem to have been able to move beyond the visible, which is but the SHADOW of the true spiritual reality.

Let us look a little closer at the Garden of Eden to see if there is a parallel in the spiritual realm. Could it be that this Garden represents a manner of living and a way of life that is available to the Sons of God today? For many Christians the Garden of Eden represents some ethereal “Heaven,” to which they hope to go, providing they have fulfilled the necessary requirements as laid down by Christendom. Such is the childish notion that so many are following today. The Garden of Eden was not a literal Garden but Spiritual, representing the love and care of our heavenly Father for his children. There are some wonderful examples of the practical provision he has made for us as we seek for light and understanding by the spirit.

Let us begin by saying that the Garden is a PREPARED PLACE FOR A PREPARED PEOPLE. It was especially prepared for Adam as a place of peace, for there was nothing there to cause unrest, as it is the dwelling place of God. The union of God and man was established here through the beauty and glory of communing together as the spirit carried them along without any effort. It is a place of quiet rest for there is no struggle, and no void to fill or lack to be replaced. This is Father’s house where there is an infinite supply to meet every need. The “Trees” provided all that was required for nourishment, and God and man functioned in unity and oneness.

Instead of looking in the Middle East for some geological evidence of the literal Garden of Eden, let us look within the man who was made in the likeness and image of God. For within the MAN, Father has established a “Garden” and it is there that we can walk life’s pathway in glorious union with him. This is the only true reality that is available for us, as everything we can see with our natural eyes is passing away, so it has no true reality. Paul reminded us that our body is the Temple of God so it is obvious that God would be found in his holy Temple. But the Greek word used here for the “Temple,” is “Naos” which specifically refers to the Most Holy Place. WE are reminded that the only furniture that was in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the covenant.

One incident in the life of David the King of Israel shows us the great importance of the Ark of the Covenant, the lid of which was called the MERCY SEAT. AS David sought to bring the Ark into Jerusalem, he made a “New Cart” in order to transport it from Obed Edom's house. On the journey the oxen stumbled and a man tried to support the Ark to stop it falling off the Cart. But that man died right there, and David had to follow the divine protocol that was established in Israel. During the journeying of the Children of Israel the Ark was never allowed to be transported on any kind of “Cart,” but it was designed to be carried upon the shoulders of the Koathites. Num 7:9. It is no different for us today, for we must carry the presence of God with us, for there is no other means by which it can be transported in the world today.

These details speak volumes to us as we are hearing the voice of God, for the Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of the God of the whole earth. who is now on a journey in each one of us. He has not secluded himself in some ethereal heaven out of the reach of mankind, but is walking the streets of the world today in a people. Did he not promise us that he would never leave nor forsake us, even though we may not even be aware of his presence with us? He has kept his word and remains an integral part of our being, as the TREASURE in an earthen vessel. Christendom has devised all kinds of ways to produce the presence of God in meetings, even to foolishly inviting the Holy Spirit to come and be present as we gather together, as if he needs an invitation when he is present in each of us.

The “Ark” was a box made of wood which was covered inside and out with GOLD. The wood speaks to us of our humanity and our connection with the earth, but the wood was hidden from view. The “Gold” speaking of the divine aspect of our being having come out of God, and is the visible manifestation of Christ that is presented to the world. However, the Ark of the Covenant that Israel carried during their wanderings was only a SHADOW of the true REALITY, which is Christ that we are privileged to have dwelling in us today.

Beloved, we are speaking about “Realities” all of which are invisible, and yet these things constitute our spiritual LIFE lived on this earth. We can never enter into such a life lived in the spirit, unless we have a consciousness that allows us to touch and experience the things that belong to this realm of spirit. The natural mind has no way of grasping the reality of these intangible things for they belong to another world that is not physical. Christendom has by-passed everything that is spiritual in this Christian life, leaving us in a bewildered state of confusion. We believe in “Baptism” and so we go into the water as required, and come up hearing someone say, you have just risen with Christ in resurrection into a new life, as a NEW CREATURE. But on reflection so often we find these are just words that have no true substance that would confirm the reality of what we say.

In this writing Father wants to take you into that “OTHER WORLD of SPIRIT” that we were designed to dwell in but has been hidden from the view of those who feel and believe they are separated from God. Just as a child being formed in the womb must retain that direct connection to the mother through the Umbilical Cord in order to develop and grow, so must we have a direct connection with God who is the only source of LIFE in the universe. Our divine connection with the world of SPIRIT is through our true identity, which is CHRIST who dwells within us. But for Christ to be our true identity, we must have a “spiritual consciousness” to enter into relationship with that which belongs to the realm of spirit.

Our natural senses are totally sufficient to live as a mortal human being, but they fail completely if we want to function in the realm of spirit. If our true identity is Christ who is spirit, how can a man adjust to life as a spiritual being if he does not have the spiritual capacity to function in that realm of Spirit? But you say, “I am spirit for that is how I was created in the beginning.” Of course that is the truth, but be honest and tell me what changed when you discovered that truth, or how did your life adjust to living as a spirit in this physical world. For most Christians we began to speak about ourselves differently, and we found that we were quoting certain scriptures quite often in an effort to be convinced that we had become, “New creatures in Christ, and Sons of God.” We confirmed to each other that we are now perfect, and the battle is over, for we are now immortal.

This is what so many are doing now, but behind the scenes the struggle goes on even though you are not allowed to speak about it, for they are told that would suggest unbelief. We are no longer allowed to use a “Negative Word,” suggesting that we may be in need of help in any aspect of our life, or we become disqualified from attaining the perfection we claim. This concept has attracted many of the saints who walk in a “Disney Land” kind of Christian life setting themselves apart from all the rest, who continue to struggle to come to grips with a REALITY they know and believe, but have not yet been able to express. Father is calling his people into a new realm of experience that does not suggest that we “Fake it until we make it,” or that we should boast to others of our “Super Spirituality,” in order to encourage others to follow. Let us hear what the Apostle Paul has to say to us on this subject.

Speaking about Israel he said that everything that happened to Israel is recorded for us, and is written as a pattern, to which we must also be conformed before we can reach Father’s will and purpose for us. “1 Corinthians 10:1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Let us ponder these words for a moment. All of Israel followed the “Cloud” and all were baptized unto Moses in the sea and in the cloud. (Water Baptism and spirit Baptism) And all walked across the Red Sea on dry land. They all ate the bread from heaven, the MANNA, and they all drank the water from the rock, but their bones are strewn across the wilderness floor. This is a very sobering thought for us to ponder. Israel was delivered from the power of Pharaoh in Egypt and they left with the promise that God would take them into the land that he promised to give them, but that whole generation with only a couple of exceptions died in the wilderness.

But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

For Israel the wilderness became the place of testing that would fit them to dwell in the Promised Land, which God had provided for them. Adam found himself in the wilderness after he had eaten the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The contrast between the Garden of Eden and the wilderness is most striking. In the Garden, Adam had everything he needed, so that he wanted for nothing. But in the wilderness he had to fend for himself, growing his own food in competition with the thorns and the thistles. Now he had to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Under those conditions, Eve his wife brings forth a child who becomes a murderer and kills his brother Abel.

Moses records for us the reason for the wilderness journey in Deut. 8. And you shall remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make you to know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that is proceeding out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Your clothes waxed not old upon you, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the LORD thy God will chasten you because you are also his son.

Israel’s release from the slavery of Egypt was through the Passover experience, that was designed to bring them into a new realm in God. Their cohesion and formation into a nation was accomplished in Egypt where they multiplied and established their national identity. But that identity was as a nation of slaves, and as their history shows they constantly wanted to return to their life of slavery in Egypt every time their circumstances did not suit them. The vision of a land flowing with milk and honey did little to encourage them and help them overcome the difficulties they encountered along the way. This is the reason why they had to wander for 40 years.

God’s people today have little true concept of who they are and how they are to live because the word “Christian” has no specific connotation. We have received revelation from the Lord that shows us that we were created SPIRIT and that we came out of that first MAN in Gen 1:26-27, who was CHRIST. Eph 2:10 . So if we came out of Christ (spirit) and Christ came out of God (spirit) then we must still be spirit, and this is the truth. The only difference between that first man and us today is that we have been given a FORM or a BODY.

Our carnal mind fails to communicate with us the fact that we ARE still SPIRIT, but we live in a BODY. This natural mind cannot come to grips with spirit at all, so most Christians today believe the life we live is in our BODY. The truth is that your body has no more life in it than a brick! In Gen 2:7 the Lord God FORMED the body from the dust, which came out of God in the beginning, but even though the body was complete, it could not move or stand up. The “Life” that was to sustain the body was then BREATHED INTO ADAMS NOSTRILS, and it is the “Spirit,” which is God, that is our life.

In the divine counsel of the almighty, God planned that the man he created would become his dwelling place, for his desire was always to dwell with his people. But because God is spirit he needed a way to become visible in this world, and so man was given a body specifically, so that through that body he might manifest himself to the world. Jesus said, “Father you did not want all those sacrifices and offerings that Israel offered to you, BUT YOU GAVE ME A BODY, and that is what you wanted rather than the sacrifices and offerings.” However it is important to realize that the Apostle Paul speaks of two expressions of our body.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. So there is an expression from the “Outer Man” and there is an expression that emanates from the “Inner Man.” The “Outer Man” is our assumed identity as a mortal human being that is controlled by the natural mind. This expression corresponds with our human nature and character, so that in many cases it is agreeable, kind and compassionate. But given the right circumstances it can also be cruel and destructive. In contrast to the “Outer Man” we also have an “Inner Man” that is actually our true identity which is CHRIST, who is a pure manifestation of God. His nature is perfect and so he functions absolutely as God under all circumstances. Many Christians wrongly believe that the “Outer Man” is in fact the “Body” that is the Temple of God that Paul spoke about in 1 Cor. 6:19.

To be continued....