Sunday, January 4 Adam’s life amounted to 930 years, and then he died.​—Gen. 5:5.

[Anniebea]

Sunday, January 4

Adam’s life amounted to 930 years, and then he died.—Gen. 5:5.

 

When Jehovah created the first man and woman, he wanted them to be happy. He gave them a beautiful home, the gift of marriage, and a fascinating assignment. They were to fill the earth with their descendants, making the whole planet a paradise like the garden of Eden. He gave them only one simple restriction. And he warned them that if they broke that command by deliberately rebelling against him, their sin would lead to death. We know what happened. An invisible spirit, one who had no love for God or for them, entered the picture and tempted them to commit that sin. Adam and Eve gave in to that bad influence. Failing to trust their loving Father, they sinned. As we know, Jehovah’s words proved true. From that day onward, they had to face the consequences: they began to grow old, and finally they died.—Gen. 1:28, 29; 2:8, 9, 16-18; 3:1-6, 17-19, 24. w24.08 3 ¶3

[dljbsp]

When we read that Adam lived 930 years and then died, it reminds us that death was never part of Jehovah’s original plan.

 

Life was meant to continue, not end.

 

Adam’s long life shows Jehovah’s generosity, but the final words show the cost of disobedience. Still, the Bible does not leave us with sadness. It explains how death entered the world, shows that Jehovah takes no pleasure in it, promises that the dead will live again, and assures us that death will be removed completely. That helps us read this verse with hope, not discouragement, because Jehovah knows what was lost and has already promised to restore it.

Romans 5:12;
Ezekiel 18:32;
John 5:28, 29;
Revelation 21:4