In the beginning, as recorded in Genesis 2, God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect creation, granting them freedom to enjoy all but one tree—the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This single restriction represented a mere fraction of what was available to them, yet it posed a critical choice. They were to decide whether to obey God's command or to partake of the forbidden fruit, a decision that would shape their nature. When the moment of temptation arrived in Genesis 3, the serpent cunningly influenced Eve, leading both her and Adam to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This act opened their minds to the full spectrum of good and evil, contrary to God's desire for them to know only good. As a consequence, they allowed themselves to be swayed by selfish desires and the serpent's persuasion, choosing a path of rebellion against God. Due to their choice to take from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God separated Himself from Adam and Eve, as He cannot abide sin. Their decision to reject His guidance and follow another mentor resulted in their expulsion from the Garden, marking the beginning of a corrupted human nature. This initial act set a precedent, illustrating how mankind, starting with a neutral nature, can be easily pulled toward evil when left to its own devices.

Mankind, since the events of Genesis 3, has lived under the curse of deciding what is right and wrong apart from God's perfect way. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, covered by His glorious beauty. Before they took from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they had a solid foundation built on the truth of God's Word and wisdom. However, the moment they partook of that tree, everything men have done has been cursed with cracks, lacking the true foundation that is only found in Jesus Christ. They knew they were naked and immediately began deciding for themselves how to restore what had covered them before, but only God could provide the restoration through the glory of Jesus Christ. This act of deciding good and evil for themselves, influenced by the seduction of a powerful shining spirit allowed by God in the Garden, marked the beginning of humanity's struggle, a seduction that continues to this day. What God offers now through Jesus Christ is a precious return to living by His Holy Spirit within the clarity and sanity of His Word, amidst a world swayed by this ongoing deception.

In this concluding message of the Jesus in the Feasts series, we reflect on the profound spiritual meaning in the Eighth Day, the final festival in God's annual cycle, revealing Christ as "our all in all." Drawing on the late Charles Whitaker's teaching on merism, a figure of speech in which opposites express totality, this sermon illustrates how the Eighth Day encapsulates the fullness and completeness of God's divine plan through Christ. Scripture gives few details about this day (Leviticus 23:33-36), but its Hebrew term Atzeret denotes closure, restraint, or retention, marking it as the capstone that concludes the Feast of Tabernacles and the entire festival season. Spiritually, it focuses upon Christ, who embodies and fulfills every lesson, hope, and promise depicted in the holy days-our Passover, Bread of Life, King Atonement, and Tabernacle—now summed up in Him who "fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:23). Through passages, including Ephesians 1 and Revelation 2, this message teaches that God's chosen saints as Christ's Body, share in His divine fulness. He is everything we need in every way, our power, holiness, and hope. In Revelation, Jesus declares Himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, reassuring His people not to fear, but endure faithfully for He reigns and will return soon. Ultimately, the Eighth Day celebrates the completion of God's redemptive work, a vision of eternal unity with Christ, Who fills and perfects all things.