It all started in the garden.
Full-circle, the Lord came back to pray.
“Did God really say that?” Seriously, the serpent spoke, which was suspicious in and of itself, but then accused Eve of misleading words.
“Yes, my God did say that,” she responded, but was her voice wavering more on the side of questioning herself at that point? That conniving, talking snake was already causing a stumble.
The event caused sinful delight of fruit and led to bushes poking and prodding at body parts that man wanted to suddenly cover. They wanted to hide from the one who created them from the inside out. Hidden from the God who knew their every curve, freckle and number of hairs on their heads, they trembled in embarrassment.
Genesis 3:8 NIV
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Then out of Eden they went. Fallen from the tree of life, knowledge, God’s wealth, and so much more, they were forever on a thorny path of trials and death.
Man fell. Deceived by an angel who thought he could play God, they were taken down in their innocence They were convinced that they needed more than what God was giving them. This set humanity into motion along a trek of grief, pride and a multitude of wretched sins.
Eve and her beloved Adam pushed play on the rescue plan that God graciously set into action.
Romans 5 NIV
Vs. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned
vs. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
vs. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Grace came, and it multiplied because our Lord came down as a man. He was born of purity, lived in purity, and was a righteous and pure sacrifice for all people.
vs. 20-21 But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thank you, Jesus, for Your pure sacrifice that was given to humanity.
Grace came, and it multiplied because our Lord came down as a man. He was born of purity, lived in purity, and was a righteous and pure sacrifice for all people. Click To TweetWithout the Lord, there would be no advent, no preparation, and no hope in greater things. While we wait, we ask that the Lord prepares and nurtures our souls and enriches our lives through opportunities to serve and grow His Kingdom. May we do well to accomplish the works that He has set out for us. May we strive to call upon Him through all persecution, trials and joys. He will protect us as we serve. No weapon against us shall prosper when we are in Him and rely on His Spirit.
May we do well to glorify Him in this grand rescue plan of His.
So beautiful to think of God’s great plan to rescue us! His grace truly is so amazing. May I let Him teach more about the depths of His love within that grace. Blessings!
I cannot WAIT for creation to be restored to its Edenic state, and His Imagers along with it. It will be glorious! Anyone ever wonder why Eve doesn’t seem surprised that a serpent spoke to her?
So, so thankful for Jesus. Loved this post, Maryann! We all stumble and fail, but by God’s grace we are saved.
It is interesting to think of what life might be like, if Eve, then Adam, had never sinned. It didn’t take long for them to sin, as it doesn’t for us today!
Great post! It’s humbling to know (in head and heart) that God’s plan of salvation was right there in the Garden of Eden. Praise Jesus for being the Provider and the Provision.
To have righteousness, we must receive God’s abundant provision of grace. Nice!