The Story Continues

In Genesis 2 and 3, we read the story of the creation of humans. It is a great story of love! God, the Creator of all, formed man from dust and created him in his own image, in his own likeness, and He gives man a companion to live in perfect unity with one another. He creates this universe, this world, and everything in it for his most loved creation, us. He gives them the great task of naming the animals and tending the garden; they are to praise him in their work. These things as they are, in complete harmony, do not last long.

Many see the fall of man as a great time of God’s judgment, and it does indeed have this aspect included. He does punish them for what they have done, for disobeying Him. There is a broken relationship between animals and humans, this perfect relationship between man and woman is also torn, pain in childbearing is increased, the ground is cursed, and man must toil. There is, no doubt, an aspect of punishment and judgment, but this story does not end in despair. It is, as stated earlier, a story of great love and grace.

At this point of God’s greatest creation turning their backs on Him, he could have chosen to wipe them out. I can imagine myself creating this beautiful wholeness out of complete chaos only to have it ignore me, as if I never existed; the slate would be wiped clean without a doubt. This is just one thing that makes God so much greater than me. Notice in Genesis 3:21, instead of destroying humans, as deserved, God shows grace. They were naked and ashamed, and he makes clothes for them. He provides for them even after what they have just done! Amazing? The story continues.

Generation after generation turn their backs on Him, and, at the point of wanting to annihilate the whole of creation, He remembers Noah in love. After the flood, he once again remembers Noah and dries the land. The story continues.

God chooses a people through his faithful servant, Abraham. Through sacrifices, he gives them a way of repentance, not for Himself, but for his people. Sacrifice has been used in the worship of other gods, but each time a sacrifice was made, the people felt they had to give something greater in order to please that particular god. Year one, they may have given some of their best crop in order that the harvest would be plentiful. Year two, they may sacrifice a small animal, year three, a large animal. This led to greater and greater sacrifices until the people were sacrificing their own children. This is indeed a sad story, but, once again, God steps in and gives his people a new way. They no longer need to make greater and greater sacrifices; they have set amounts that will do. Many would even say that God does not need these sacrifices; they are more to ease the minds of the people. He wants their lives.

Time and time again, however, the people turn to idols. God has shown them great mercy and love, yet they still do not understand. Throughout Judges we see the people worshiping idols, God sends an oppressor, the people cry out, and God hears their cries and sends a judge, a deliverer. He shows grace. The story continues.

In their crying and groaning for the promised Messiah, God hears. This Messiah, however, is much different than they ever imagined. They expected a great king to conquer the Roman authority and lead them to great power. Instead, God sends the suffering servant. No longer do the people make sacrifices to Him; He sends a sacrifice for them, for us all. He offers himself, his Son, Jesus the Christ, to live among His people, suffer, and die. He does this, once again, not for himself but for us because he is love. He is grace.

But Christ is not left alone in death. He conquers our final oppressor; he faces and defeats the evil that entered the world because we turned our backs on Him in the Garden all so that we would not have to. He is resurrected and alive, and he promises to return again to complete the restoration act that has been going on since God clothed Adam and Eve as they left the Garden. The story continues.

We now live in the “time between times” and are called to faithfully insert ourselves into God’s ongoing story. Paul writes that we must offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” and live each day to reflect Christ who, himself, lived, died, and lives again. He wants our lives. As “Christ’s ambassadors,” we must live each day as if the Kingdom is already here; the story still continues.

-Matt