God Shows Mercy From The Start

God warned Adam that in the day he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die. In doing so God established ground rules which still apply today. As in the garden the punishment for disobedience (sin) is death. Is Adam's survival after eating a sign that God got it wrong? But we teach that God never makes mistakes. How is it that Adam ate and did not die? I believe two things happened during and after the fall: Adam suffered spiritual death and God was merciful.

Genesis 3:1-7

Adam did continue his physical existence after eating the forbidden fruit but from that point on it seems as if he was a very different person. I'm not a theologian but Adam's actions, as recorded in the Bible, give the impression that while physically alive something was very wrong spiritually.

For starters, his relationship with his wife changed. He suddenly felt the need for a barrier between himself and Eve. His desire to put on clothes shows he was no longer as comfortable around her as he was before. Perhaps he felt vulnerable. Perhaps he had grown insecure. Whatever the reason, his putting on clothes represented a change in his relationship with his wife. They no longer accepted each other as they had when God first created them. Now they needed to cover up.

How we love others is a sign of where we are spiritually. The change in how Adam and Eve saw each other is evidence that Adam's spirit had changed. I suspect he still loved Eve but his love was no longer the unconditional love of a living spirit. His fig leaves represent both a change in how he saw Eve and a change in his ability to live spiritually as God originally designed.

"...and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden."

Genesis 3:8

If you are hiding from God something is wrong spiritually. In this case not only did they hide in the trees but they also found a blind spot where the all knowing had to ask where they were. In college I was asked to explain why God asks this question. I gave an answer for which my opinion has not changed over the (many) years. We know that sin separates from God yet we say all are in His presence. This is what we see upon God's return to the garden, Adam was physically near but the spiritual connection he once had with the Father was no more. This is also what we see as Christ, under the weight of our sins, asks why His Father has forsaken Him (Matthew 27:46). I believe God knew where Adam was physically but Adam was lost to God spiritually. In fact if not for what God does next, Adam would be eternally lost.

After speaking with Adam and Eve God sacrifices animals. As with the law given to Israel an animal sacrifice was used to atone for sin. The lives of the animals were given in place of the lives owed by Adam and Eve because of their sin. This was acceptable in the eyes of God, foreshadowing what would happen on the cross many centuries later where One who was without sin gave His life in place of the lives we all owe.

Like Adam we all have sinned. By law our being found guilty comes with a sentence of death. With His death on the cross Jesus offered Himself as a substitute giving His life in place of ours. Because of His sinless nature His payment is sufficient to cover all our sins, a sacrifice which is acceptable in the eyes of the Father. Now God can forgive without violating the law of righteousness.

Even in the Old Testament we find God being merciful. By all rights He could have and should have poured out His anger because of Adam's sin. Instead He blotted out their sins with the blood of  animals. If not for this act of mercy and compassion Adam and Eve would have perished, being dead to God in their sins. Today’s believers can live knowing our sins are washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ who died for all of our sins. In this we see God’s mercy.

How Should Christians Respond to the Midterm Election Results?

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The 2018 midterm election is (for the most part) done. Only a few recounts and absentee ballot counts between now and the swearing in of our new government officials. I wish I agreed with everyone who won but I don't. Now that it's all said and done how should followers of Christ respond to the results?

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (and I think it's safe to say all women), for kings and all who are in authority,..."

I Timothy 2:12

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

Romans 13:1

See Also my 2017 post: "Did We Elect A Moses or A Pharaoh?"

Are You Focused On Christ or On the Waves?

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Matthew 14:22-33

Imagine how incredible it must have been to see two men walk on water. First Jesus, then Peter, doing the impossible. What would you have felt as you watched the two defy gravity and everything you know to be true about the surface of a lake? Would you have been afraid for both? Would you have been jealous of Peter wishing you had the courage to step out of the boat? Would you have taken the time to be amazed or would you have been upset with Jesus for letting you go out in a storm?

Early on in my Christian walk I endured what I still consider one of the biggest storms of my life. I had moved back home after graduating college, planning to find a job and to get established on my own as quickly as possible. Because of my own poor financial decisions I needed time to dig my way up to where I could find a financial path. Little did I know my mom's situation was worse than my own.

I had my suspicions but could not confirm that my mom was unemployed until the power was turned off. For the next year we would survive with no light, no heat and limits to what kind of food we could store. We weren't homeless but the life we were living was not far from it. Fortunately we did have warm water and a working stove, though unrefrigerated hot dogs were perhaps not the best thing to cook. I thank God I didn't die of food poisoning.

Early on during that year of darkness I found it difficult to focus on Christ. When the storm shows no sign of ending and the waves are coming in from all directions it's tough to believe in God or His promises, especially when sinking seems to be the only available option. From time to time I, like Peter, called out, "Save me Lord." But most of the time I griped about the situation calling God out saying, "Why me," or "Lord, how could you?"

It's hard to embrace the waves during a storm. I tend to look at the big waves, the ones which tend to pull me under. But even in the storms we are told to give thanks. We are in God's hands. Even in the storm we are where He wants (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). There we can learn and grow and be refined at the hand of the Master. However to truly grow we must keep our eyes on the One Who calms the storms.

During a year of living unplugged I learned how God can sustain when we seem to have nothing. My year with no electricity became one long quiet time with God, that is once I learned to end my self-centered complaining. No it was not easy. In the middle of that storm I wanted out. I wanted to see the light at the end of the tunnel or any other light that might come available. I thought I needed electricity and television and a power can opener. God took all that away and I found what I really needed.

Salvation in Christ does not mean an end to the storms of life. On the contrary, we may even see more storms because of who we have become. What is different for the believer is the fact that our storms bring with them the Father's goals for that chapter of life. Think of the lessons the disciples learned in the middle of the storm, the testimonies they gained as they witnessed the power of God incarnate. Without the storm and the waves they would have missed out. Because of those same waves they grew in their faith, praising Jesus as the Son of God.

Trust in God during the storms that come into your life. Focus and watch as He works all for your good and His glory.

"And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

Do you know this for yourself? Are you focused on Christ knowing He is working for your good or are you focused on the waves? Keep your focus on Christ. As for those storms, learn to embrace the waves as opportunities for growth.