Between mission trips and the world’s health crisis, it seems as though our Glory Road has taken a bit of a detour over the last few months. I’ll be the first to admit, life has been a little distracting, but now more than ever, we must “recalibrate” and keep our gospel direction!
The last time we had our bibles opened together, we were peering into the events recorded for us in Genesis 3, and we had discovered that life has taken a drastic turn for our earthly parents in the Garden of Eden.
They had had a rather unfortunate encounter with a master Deceiver and had been ensnared by the same lustful temptation that he himself had been ensnared by; the desire to be like God. They too, have experienced a dramatic and painful shift in their being.
Even at this point in the story, they have no understanding of the full implications of what has just happened to them.
They know one thing only, and that is, they are not what they were only moments before.
And they are naked.
At the very instant of their rebellion, even as they plunged to the ground, the weight of the glory of God has been replaced by the crushing weight of their sin. Frantic and afraid, Adam opens his eyes in time to see this vestment of glory lifted up and away from him. His hand reaches toward the sky, as though this desperate act could somehow retrieve it.
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Suddenly, the serpents hissing turns into a hideous, heinous laughter. Their devious enemy watches the Glory depart the freshly, demoted rulers with a deep satisfaction. Stepping upon a rock to make himself appear a little taller, he straightens himself upright, raises his flinty face toward heaven and with defiance declares,
“If I can’t have it, neither can they.”
We talk of sin. Intuitively, we know what it is. Of course we do, we feel it. It has a weight of its own, a presence, if you will, that is undeniable. And yet, by some strange paradox, it at the same time creates a deep, penetrating void within us. It is a vacuum we were never meant to have. And the more we attempt to fill it on our own, the more it gnaws away. That space was created for one thing and one thing only, the Spirit and Glory of God.
When Adam and his wife rebelled against the will of God, and trespassing, took what did not belong to them, the Spirit of God was separated from them. In this way, Adam and his wife experienced a spiritual death (refer to “Understanding Adam and the Realm Within/ Nov. 2019). It was the judgement of God established for Adam from the beginning.
“But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
It is this way because God cannot dwell in the presence of sin. God is righteous and holy and just and anything that is not of this same holy nature is destroyed by His very Presence. I know this will sound strange, but it was a loving and merciful act that God did by removing this part of Himself from Adam. Had he not done this, Adam would have been physically annihilated completely and immediately, and forever separated from Him with no chance of redemption.
It is not the last act of mercy that Adam will experience before the day is over. However, in spite of this, one thing remains true for Adam.
His very constitution is changed.
The two are now keenly aware of their nakedness and in anguish they seek a way to cover themselves.
Fig leaves…it’s pathetic and they know it. It is not enough. It too falls short. What, after all, can replace what they have lost?
Mankind has been attempting to cover himself in similar ways ever since. Neither is it enough, and hidden away in the dark and murky crevices of our consciousness…we know it, too.
Adam and his wife have partaken of the tree of death and have traded their intimacy with the goodness of God for the knowledge of evil.
Another encounter awaits the man and his woman. A familiar voice calls unto them,
“Where are you?”
I can imagine the paralyzing terror that Adam felt in that moment, his own blood running cold and furious through his fearful heart. He knew he deserved God’s condemnation and wrath. He knew he had yet to stand before the Righteous Judge to receive his sentence and conviction.
What Adam did not know was the depths of God’s love for him. He did not know of grace and redemption.
He is about to learn some things even the devil didn’t know!
Stick around friend, maybe you will learn some things you didn’t know as well!
Until next time, stay smart and stay safe! God bless you!