There is this feeling of warmth and security when I nestle under a duvet as a child since then, most especially when there is a storm surging, with lightning and thunder in rhythm. The storm made our house feel much more comfortable and safer, shielding us from getting wet and protecting us from danger.
There is this feeling of warmth and security when I nestle under a duvet as a child since then, most especially when there is a storm surging, with lightning and thunder in rhythm. The storm made our house feel much more comfortable and safer, shielding us from getting wet and protecting us from danger.
Here we can take a glimpse of the Garden of Eden, which God designed as a place of delight, freedom, and protection just for Adam and Eve.
Genesis 2
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
However, because of disobedience, they found themselves in dire need of the very thing God has already provided for them – “covering” of freedom and protection.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,
that it was pleasant to the eyes,
and a tree desirable to make one wise,
she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they knew that they were naked,
and they sewed fig leaves together
and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
We lose sight of the great protection and benefits “authority” provides by rejecting or fearing it. We shudder because we don’t see it from God’s perspective. We keep on looking from our vision which divides the vision of God from ours. Division means “two visions,” therefore if we do not submit to God’s will it would lead us astray. We should not be like a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways.
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden,
and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you
that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said,
“The woman whom You gave to be with me,
she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman,
“What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Since we started to move out from God’s will, expect fear and shame on our doorway. The “enemy” will strongly throw guilt and accusations leaving us robbed out of joy, freedom, protection, and peace. Then “blame” would be our favorite game; we either blame ourselves, others or even the enemy for our misfortunes.
We isolate ourselves from the Lord, we hide and run away from him – the very God who created and love us.
We thought God shouldn’t see us in our most awkward condition in life, we thought to distance ourselves will keep his eyes from seeing us in our filthiest form. NO. Let us always be reminded that the eyes of the Lord range to the ends of the earth looking at those who do evil and those who are righteous. God will always see us through, despite our undesirable position, he will unhesitatingly look at us and offer a rescuing hand. And yet, we should all be familiar with “consequence” for it is present not only when we do wrong but also when we have decided to follow Jesus.
Admit you were wrong.
Accept the consequence.
Get a good grip of faith, courage, and humility. Obey without having second thoughts.
God is a God of senses, he will never pass by without noticing a heart that is desperate and in need of him. You may hide for a while but he will still find you. You may run from him, but his love will always chase after you.
God is a God of senses, he will never pass by without noticing a heart that is desperate and in need of him. You may hide for a while but he will still find you. You may run from him, but his love will always chase after you.
This is what makes our God far different from other gods. We may be temporarily out of Eden but with obedient hearts, he will bring us again to a beautiful place of glory greater than the Eden we used to know – a place where freedom, love and abundance reign.
No great sin can make him love you less. His perfect love will always cover you and you can experience a satisfying taste of real freedom and protection.
You are who you are right now because of who he is, he was and he is to come – HE IS THE GREAT I AM.