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It wasn't a mushy, sentimental missive but a genuine, bona fide, pure act of love. In the beginning, God, the ever-existent One, living in the realm of Eternity, created the heavens and the earth. Mankind, created the sixth day, was given dominion (control) over the earth, the fish, the birds, and every.living thing that moved on the earth. He was to multiply and fill the earth. He was to dress and subdue (bring under his control) the earth. [Genesis 1-3] Adam, the man God created and Eve, his mate and helper, were made co-equal partners over the earth. They were not designed to be robots but were given a 'will', the ability to decide and choose; a skill they must have to correctly rule the earth. The knowledge and wisdom of God was placed at their disposal. Communication between themselves and God was totally open and unrestricted. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden that God designed specifically for their comfort. There was only one restriction. They were not to eat of the fruit of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree would become their testing ground. Would they rely upon God's wisdom and knowledge or would they trust themselves alone? We are not told how long the man and his wife lived in this state of perfection but there came a point of decision. The serpent (indwelt by Satan, a created spirit being that had lifted himself in pride against God and as a result lost his place of honor) came to Eve and suggested that God was holding out on them. The suggestion was that God was withholding a good thing from them thus keeping them dependent on Him. It was a temptation to be totally self-sufficient with no need for God's interference in their lives. The offer appeared harmless, too good to pass up and so the fruit of the forbidden tree was eaten. Immediately they saw and felt things that God had mercifully hidden from them. Their independence had a price tag. No longer did they possess unrestricted access to God's knowledge and wisdom. The relationship that they had enjoyed with their creator was now gone. They had divorced God. Shame and guilt became their constant companion. No longer would they experience the daily favor of God upon themselves. God would continue to support them with the necessities of life (air to breathe, water to drink, weather to support the growth of food, etc.) but they would no longer benefit from His presence. They were on their own. Their sin brought the curse of pain, death and the desire to dominate each other. No longer could they simply 'dress' the earth, it would now produce thorns and thistles and food would only be earned by sweat and toil. Their nakedness of soul and body would forever cause them to hide their true feelings and seek to 'use' each other for advantage. They lost it all by one decision. Their attempt to hide from God proved useless. Sudden death, eternity without God, and no chance for reconciliation could have been their condition forever. But God, in His divine, endless love, gave them a promise that day that He would personally make a way for them to be reconciled (brought back into relationship) to Himself if they chose to do so. (Gen 3:15) It took the shedding of blood (the slaughter of animals) for their physical covering. From this point on it would require the shedding of blood to cover their sin. It seemed a long time before God kept his promise, but for God who dwells in eternity without the limitation of time, it was but a moment. He kept His word by sending His only Son, Jesus, God's Valentine. Jesus became the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. His sacrifice would be once and for all. It would require nothing of mankind except faith and God would provide even the measure of faith needed to accept His provision. Therefore there is no excuse for mankind to stay in his fallen, sinful state. All that is needed has been freely provided, except man's decision. The decision to be restored to fellowship with God is a tough one for mankind to make. It means giving up one's independence and becoming dependent upon God once again. Power over ones own life is still a heady choice in spite of the difficulties it presents. However, common sense would tell us that God's way is far superior to our own. Submission is not a bedfellow of self-will. So a decision must be made. God has freely provided the solution for sin but it does require our submission to His will. Jesus showed us the way and became The Way. The decision is now ours and so are the consequences.
Article Source: http://christian-topics.info
Willetta is a former retired pastor and author of three websites. she lives with her husband of 54 years. She teaches the flagship SS class of her local church. Her websites are www.teachmethyways.org/ www.successwithkids.org/ www.theseedsower.org/
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