Sin Separates
I have been studying recently the Scriptural account of creation and God's goodness to His creation. Just think of how perfect Adam and Eve's existence must have been in the Garden of Eden. There was no death, no sin, the most incredible food, a perfect relationship with each other, and a perfect intimate relationship with their Creator - the Almighty Eternal God. They were commanded to rule over all of this creation; however, they could not eat of one tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden. That tree was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Life could not have been better than it was until Satan (in the form of the serpent) started speaking lies to Eve about God. Genesis 3:4 says, "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' " Satan is telling Eve that God is a liar! He suggests to her that God only gave this warning to them because He doesn't want them to be like Him. It's easy to cast judgment on Adam and Eve for buying into the lies of Satan in the Garden of Eden, but isn't that the case with us every time we give in to one of his temptations to us? Satan, in essence, is painting a skewed picture of God in our minds. He is telling us that the rules that God laid out for our "protection" are because God is an unloving tyrant. He tries to convince us that the satisfaction we will gain by fulfilling the desires of our flesh is far greater than any satisfaction God can offer us. But, let's not miss the lesson from Adam and Eve. All sin has consequences. Because they bought into Satan's lie, they experienced spiritual separation from God and physical death began its process. And my sin does the same. Thankfully, we are on the other side of the cross, though, where that separation has been bridged by the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ - God's Son. Now, even though I must still face physical death, I do not have to face eternal death. God has made a way for the relationship to be restored. Praise the Lord for that! Still, I echo the words of Paul in Romans 6:1, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" I cannot sin just because I know grace will abound. I have been "buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so [I] also should walk in newness of life." So remember, Satan is the liar, not God. God can be nothing but good. And even when we, His creation, have messed up so horribly, God has made a way so that we no longer have to experience separation from Him. After receiving His most generous gift of salvation, you and I now have a responsibility to "walk in newness of life." "God, thank you for sacrificing your Son, Jesus, on the cross so that we do not have to face separation from You!" If you would like to know more about a relationship with God, please contact us at info@encounterrevival.org. We would be glad to help you in your search for Truth. In His Service, PC Staff
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