Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil...The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:8, 9, 15-17
The first man heard from God's own lips the first commandment, the first warning, the first indication that all things in Creation are not free and pure. I wonder what the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil looked like. Was it scary looking or attractive? The tree was not yet cursed, so it couldn't have had blight or blemished fruit. Perhaps it looked nearly identical to the Tree of Life. Often the paths between good and evil are very hard to discern for us today and it could have been the same for Adam.
What must it have been like for Adam to try and imagine a thing such as death when he had no experience to base it on? How can one imagine consequences if he has never been disciplined? It could appear to our modern minds that God was being unfair. We know that God often tests us, but why? Why would He invite temptation into His perfect world?
What benefit is there to be had by allowing Adam free will? Well, let's think about this for a minute. If a man buys a slave woman to take as his wife, she will resent him and true love will be less likelky to grow. However, if a man meets a woman who is free and she chooses him, true love abounds.
There is something precious about the love between God and a person who gives their love to God freely. That love is deep, powerful and dynamic. Life's irritations, frustrations, disappointments, tragedies and pain cannot break it. At times the flame of love may grow dim. Doubts and discouragement often force us to re-evaluate our reasons for loving God and decide whether it's worth the consequences - that is, restrictions from things that God has determined are not good for us, commandments to not do things that would harm others and personal experience of the battle between good and evil.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
THE BREATH OF LIFE
Original Post Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens - and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:4-7
Man was sculpted by God's own hand. But a sculpture is not alive. A sculpture can be beautiful and captivating, but it cannot talk, reason or love. God wanted a companion not a decoration for his courtyard.
Every single one of us was formed by God's hand (Jer. 1:5). Not one of us takes our first breath or last except by God's will.
Two of my brothers were stillborn. My mother still grieves for them, yet knows that somehow God's wisdom prevailed. He did not breathe into their nostrils the breath of life. He did not entrust them with the opportunity to live and grow and make their mark in the world. When I think of my brothers, I am convicted that I've not done more with this gift, this privilege we call life.
Life is a series of stolen moments. If we don't cherish them while they're here, they are gone forever. And, at the moment when God chooses, our breath stops and the book of life closes. Nothing therein can be added or changed. One chance, one privilege, one life.
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens - and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:4-7
Man was sculpted by God's own hand. But a sculpture is not alive. A sculpture can be beautiful and captivating, but it cannot talk, reason or love. God wanted a companion not a decoration for his courtyard.
Every single one of us was formed by God's hand (Jer. 1:5). Not one of us takes our first breath or last except by God's will.
Two of my brothers were stillborn. My mother still grieves for them, yet knows that somehow God's wisdom prevailed. He did not breathe into their nostrils the breath of life. He did not entrust them with the opportunity to live and grow and make their mark in the world. When I think of my brothers, I am convicted that I've not done more with this gift, this privilege we call life.
Life is a series of stolen moments. If we don't cherish them while they're here, they are gone forever. And, at the moment when God chooses, our breath stops and the book of life closes. Nothing therein can be added or changed. One chance, one privilege, one life.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ACCOMPLISHMENT & BEAUTY
Original Post Date: Friday, July 11, 2008
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 1:31-2:3Accomplishment is one of the abilities and emotions that we inherited when we were created in God's image. The Creator, like an artist, takes a step back from the completed masterpiece we call Earth and breathes a sigh of satisfaction. "This is good - very good."
Like a toymaker testing a new wind up toy he has just finished, God takes a day to stop His work and enjoy the scenery. The birds are soaring above the trees, riding the thermals. The caterpillar is inching along a tree branch, dreaming of the day it will take its own flight as a butterfly. Adam sits on the soft grass and gazes into the eyes of the most beautiful creature he has yet seen in the most glorious paradise that ever existed.
Peace and beauty abound.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
EVERY LIVING THING EATS PLANTS
Original Post Date: July 3, 2008
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A Word About Diversity
Original Post Date: June 24, 2008
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Throughout the Creation account, Scripture tells us how God created various kinds of creatures. He not only created two birds, but many kinds of birds. Not just two fish, but many kinds of fish. But when He created mankind, He only made two - male and female.
The Bible does not indicate that the various ethnicities were created at the beginning. Only one race was created - the human race. So, how did the various races form?
We see here in Genesis 1 that God instructed the first man and woman to multiply and fill the earth. We know from Genesis 11 that the people did not do this, but rather clustered in one place. Because of their disobedience, God confused their languages and scattered them. Was this the beginning of cultures? If so, does this make cultural and racial differences a result of sin or of natural selection? The Bible doesn't say.
What I think we can gather from Scripture is that God views all people, regardless of race, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are equal in our status, in our sin and in our opportunity for salvation.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Throughout the Creation account, Scripture tells us how God created various kinds of creatures. He not only created two birds, but many kinds of birds. Not just two fish, but many kinds of fish. But when He created mankind, He only made two - male and female.
The Bible does not indicate that the various ethnicities were created at the beginning. Only one race was created - the human race. So, how did the various races form?
We see here in Genesis 1 that God instructed the first man and woman to multiply and fill the earth. We know from Genesis 11 that the people did not do this, but rather clustered in one place. Because of their disobedience, God confused their languages and scattered them. Was this the beginning of cultures? If so, does this make cultural and racial differences a result of sin or of natural selection? The Bible doesn't say.
What I think we can gather from Scripture is that God views all people, regardless of race, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We are equal in our status, in our sin and in our opportunity for salvation.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A WORD ABOUT DOMINION
Original Post Date: Friday, June 20, 2008
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28
From the moment God created us, we were in control of the earth. We were created to rule. It had to be so. Because God rules, the people created in His likeness had to be given a realm to rule too. And what, specifically, is our domain as God describes it? Fish, birds and land animals.
As I sit here, my pet dove is pruning her feathers and my dog is begging for the crumbs from my breakfast. I am their master. They know it and I know it. It was ordained from the beginning. As their master, it is my responsibility to make sure they’re taken care of.
God wants mankind to do that for all the animals, not just our pets. Sometimes we do well, like when we set apart nature reserves or make a species endangered. Other times we don’t do so well, like when our urban sprawl encroaches animal habitats.
How well we rule will be a testimony to God of our faithfulness to the responsibility He gave us. May each of us do our best to care and influence those in power to care more about the world of our dominion.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28
From the moment God created us, we were in control of the earth. We were created to rule. It had to be so. Because God rules, the people created in His likeness had to be given a realm to rule too. And what, specifically, is our domain as God describes it? Fish, birds and land animals.
As I sit here, my pet dove is pruning her feathers and my dog is begging for the crumbs from my breakfast. I am their master. They know it and I know it. It was ordained from the beginning. As their master, it is my responsibility to make sure they’re taken care of.
God wants mankind to do that for all the animals, not just our pets. Sometimes we do well, like when we set apart nature reserves or make a species endangered. Other times we don’t do so well, like when our urban sprawl encroaches animal habitats.
How well we rule will be a testimony to God of our faithfulness to the responsibility He gave us. May each of us do our best to care and influence those in power to care more about the world of our dominion.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
To my writing group friends:
You'll be happy to hear that I actually posted on Yahoo! the review of Barcelona restaurant that I wrote at group on Monday night. Here's the link...
Yahoo! Local - Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
http://local.yahoo.com/info-15439369-barcelona-restaurant-bar-columbus
I received another e-mail encouraging me to consider turning STICK TOGETHER LIKE GLUE into a book rather than a blog series. I'm getting excited about trying to write a chapter or two and see how it goes.
Thanks for all your encouragement and for letting God work in and through your writing to bless people's lives.
You'll be happy to hear that I actually posted on Yahoo! the review of Barcelona restaurant that I wrote at group on Monday night. Here's the link...
Yahoo! Local - Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
http://local.yahoo.com/info-15439369-barcelona-restaurant-bar-columbus
I received another e-mail encouraging me to consider turning STICK TOGETHER LIKE GLUE into a book rather than a blog series. I'm getting excited about trying to write a chapter or two and see how it goes.
Thanks for all your encouragement and for letting God work in and through your writing to bless people's lives.
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