We have learned in the first part of this article that one of the principles established in the Garden of Eden was eating a diet composed of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables (added after the fall). Another principle that needs to be practiced in order to stay healthy is exercise (see first part).
Let us back track a little. Even before the Lord created Adam and Eve, and established principles for man’s health and happiness, He created the things man needed in order to be happy and healthy.
When God created the earth, the first thing He created was light (Gen.1:3). We know that without light, there would be no life. In order for the trees and other plants to produce fruit, light is needed. Then the Lord created the firmament on the second day ( Gen. 1: 6,7). This firmament divided the waters such that some of the waters were above and the rest of the waters were below. In the firmament is found one thing that is needed for life: air. On the third day the Lord made the land appear by gathering the waters that were below in one place. Then He made the trees, and other plants and the grass of the fields. This was to be the source of food for man and animals (Gen. 1: 8-12).
When God created the trees and the plants, He said: “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth:” (Gen.1:11). If we read this statment carefully, the Lord has stated that the seed is in the fruit and that all plants will bear fruit after their kind. That is the reason why we never see apple trees bearing mango fruits or vice versa. The apple tree always produces apple fruits and the mango tree always produces mango fruits for that is what the Lord said and their seeds are inside the fruit.
On the fourth day the Lord created the sun, moon and stars. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.” (Gen. 1: 14-16) And on the fifth and sixth day, God created the living creatures. Man was created on the sixth day after everything else were created. Man is said to be crowning act of creation. It is because man was created in the image of God.
Isn’t God a wonderful God. He is kind and thoughtful. He created the light, the air, food-bearing plants, and the water which man needed in order to live. But He did not stop there.He created the sun, moon and stars to guide man in terms of times and seasons. He even divided the day into day and night so man would have time to rest and sleep at night and be able to do some activity or work when there is greater light during the day.
