Monday, December 22, 2008

Eve - Better than Santa Claus

Genesis 3:9-13 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Did you ever notice that when you are out of the will of God, you don't pray? I'm guilty of this. If I know there is something going on in my life that is against God's word, I stop talking to Him (exact opposite of what should be done). This has been going on since the beginning of time.

God came to spend time with Adam in the garden and called out to him - Where are you? Now, we all know that God knew exactly where Adam was and exactly what he had done - why ask? I think it was object lesson time. Adam told God that he was hiding from Him because he was naked. This is where God begins to break apart the lies, as He always does.

Notice when He asks both Adam and Eve what happened - they blame it on someone else. Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent. Would things have been any different if they just would've said they were sorry?

In our daily lives, we don't say we're sorry because it means the blame is on us - guess what? It IS our fault. If we're tempted by someone else, it's still our fault for falling into that temptation. When we are living out of God's will - it's OUR fau
lt, no one else's. Our best option, what should be our ONLY option, is admitting guilt (we will never be perfect) apologize (sincerely mean it) and try to do better (don't keep doing the same thing). Jesus KNOWS when we're good or bad - more so than Santa Claus - that's why He made the sacrifice He did - so that even when we keep messing up, we don't have to spend eternity without Him. Thank God for His sacrifice that I will never be worthy of. . .

4 comments:

Greg C said...

Wow Dorothy. Way to hit me below the belt. I thought it was only me that felt that way. Sometimes when I am driving and thinking something that I know is wrong I will immediatly become aware of what is being sung or said on the radio station (It's called His Radio) and I become ashamed and sometimes turn the station like (maybe He doesn't know)

I know though that I am wrong and usually say a prayer and turn the station back on. Isn't that crazy?

I think that is a big problem today. No one wants to take the blame for anything that goes wrong.

Kelly said...

Wonderful post today. It is so true, we don't want to be caught in our sin. But being caught is actually a blessing so that we can repent, and "go and sin no more!" I'm so glad I am covered by the forgiveness of God.

God's girl said...

Beautiful post! Love the picture as well. I was just having this talk with my daughter today. She is having a hard time admitting guilt.

MUch love,
Angela

sailorcross said...

Oh, this brings back memories of when I was just a small child!!

My mother would say, "When you tell one lie, then you have to tell another to cover up that lie, and then another and another--until you have told so many lies that you don't even remember the first lie that you told."

This is so true. Why is it so hard to admit our guilt, that we have fallen short? Is it because we feel that we have yet again disappointed God or are we disappointed in ourselves--probably both.

But, when we turn to God, admit our guilt, ask for forgiveness and sincerely say I'm sorry, there is the wonderful, freeing feeling of acceptance and love--God's unconditional love.

This is a lesson to be learned in our day to day lives--when someone comes to us and asks forgiveness, we need to extend the same grace and mercy that God extends to us.

So many people walking around that are carrying grudges from the past with them--if only they would accept the forgiveness that has been asked of them or ask for forgiveness themselves.

Beth