“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other
beast of the field that the Lord God had made.”
Genesis 3:1
I don’t believe I have ever seen a movie or read a book that sends chills down my spine as Chapter 3 of Genesis. What evil entered into God’s perfect creation – with the sole intention to discredit God and destroy that which he made! The magnitude of this is almost as incomprehensible as the creation itself.
There have been lots of sermons on this, but perhaps the one that riveted me the most was the one I heard last night by R.C. Sproul. Here’s the link: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/dust-to-glory/the-fall/ You may need to purchase it for a nominal amount, but I believe you will find it well worth the time and money. This was Part Three of a series entitled “Dust to Glory” which is an introductory tour through the bible. I’m finding it fascinating. Take some time to be without distraction and soak it in.
Actually, I find myself speechless and not knowing even what to share this morning about all this. I guess the end result is that humans ended up running and hiding from the God who created them SO THAT they would seek Him out. And, as R.C. points out, we’ve been running from him ever since.
Running from God. Imagine that, will you?
This problem is so huge I can’t get my mind around it. It’s incomprehensible the behavior I had before I was a believer. Romans 1 fits me to a T.
Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Here’s the real rub. I am now a believer and have been for twelve years, yet I STILL find myself running and hiding from God. STILL! I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me. I am fully aware of this fact. Even so, I still hide.
What in the world is my problem? Do I not know the goodness of the Lord? Of course, I do. I’ve tasted and seen his mercy and love. I witness to others about it. Why are there times when I run and hide? Why is it that at times I have to force myself to seek him (usually when circumstances are so miserable that I feel I need to!)?
Could it be that we humans are so wicked that we refuse to even consider the magnitude of our evil hearts? I’m reminded of the Komodo dragon. Have you ever seen these on TV? They are simply awful. They have no enemies. They are armored. They are fearless. They are poisonous. They abandon their eggs. The young ones live in trees to escape the cannibal adults! Could it be that we humans are more despicable (and treacherous) then these primordial serpents?
Could it be that humans are by far the most evil of all creation? Could it be that there is nothing worse than a human? Could it be that salvation is the utmost act of mercy and kindness imaginable? I think so. We don’t think of ourselves as such, but I think we are wicked beyond comprehension.
Romans 9:19-23 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory –
For some reason, God had mercy on me. I can’t explain to anyone why. I am no longer the man I once was. I’m not sure what started this whole thing off. Maybe it was the fact that humans have the ability to make a choice. Still, we are accountable for our choices, are we not? Yet, we choose destruction until God steps in and plucks us out of the carnage. Do you argue that humans are wicked beyond comprehension? Over 60,000,000 babies in the US have been murdered since 1973 in the name of “reproductive health.” You tell me who is worse, humans or the Komodo dragons?
Now, imagine the mercy God has on those he chooses.
I so look forward to the day when I am rid of this body of flesh and reunited with my resurrected body. I really despise my sin, and I am completely dumbfounded that I still run and hide from God. One day, that will no longer be the case.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Father, I look forward to that day when nothing about me rebels against you. Amen.
Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers