Wolves in the Sheep Pen

   

      There is no greater danger in the church today than false teachers.  Of course, this has been true from the beginning of church history.  Jesus warned the disciples that this would occur in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:15):  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."  He went on to say that we could recognize them by their fruits.  Carrying on this warning, the Apostle Paul instructed young Timothy about this very issue.
     In I Timothy 1:3-4, Paul writes:  "As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith."  Then Paul goes on in verses 5-7 to describe what the goal of their teaching is and how it differs from the false teachers:  "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  Certain persons by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions."  The false teacher appears to be knowledgeable, but in fact, as Paul says, they really do not understand what they are saying.  Hasn't this been true of those who have appeared on the world stage declaring that they have new revelation from God?  A number of cults grew as a result of false teachers in our day, but this has been happening since the beginning of the church.
     Later in Paul's letter to Timothy, he comes again to address the false teachers and what motives they may have.  In chapter 6:3-5, Paul writes:  "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.  He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."  There it is.  Money, greed, and power are behind those who depart from the sound Gospel of Christ.  They come sounding very good, sincere, and earnest in their approach, but they really do not grasp the truth found in God's Word.  Instead, they believe there is money to be made in the work they do in the church.  Paul clearly rejects this and tells Timothy that we are to be content with the food and clothing we have.  Certainly, there is nothing wrong with wanting to make a good living to support your family, but some of these false teachers want more than that.  They are building a kingdom for themselves not for God.
     Wolves in sheep's clothing are not always easy to spot because they sound so good.  They know enough about Scripture to make their appeal come across as valid.  However, as Jesus told us, we will know them by their fruits.  Are they submissive to leadership?  Do they accept discipline or do they want things their way?  Are they looking for monetary gain or are they humble servants seeking to reach out to all?  These are the questions we need to ask ourselves when someone puts himself forward as a teacher, leader or pastor.
      Today, just as in the time of the early church, I fear there are many wolves looking for opportunities to promote themselves not for the good of the sheep but for their own good.  Such is the sin nature of man.  Therefore, as believers, we need to pray for our pastors, elders, deacons and leaders that they may have wisdom and the ability to discern the wolves among the sheep along with the courage to drive them out.  It is not an easy task to protect the flock of God.  May God help us to walk in the truth daily so we may not be caught off guard by false teachers.  Selah!


Wolf picture is courtesy of Wiki Commons Media and author Laenulfean at http://flickr.com/photos/60359963@N00/481388115.

When All Lies in Ruins

    Two years ago before my husband and I took a trip to Europe for our wedding anniversary, I started delving into our family history on Ancestry.com.  I knew that most of my family members came from Germany.  With a maiden name like “Hess”, it was obvious.
     One of my family members, my great, great grandfather, drew my interest as he had fought in the Civil War.  His name was Daniel Hess and he came from Darmstadt, Germany along with his parents in 1848.  At the age of 22, he enlisted in the 100th Regiment, Company B of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry to fight on behalf of the Union.  I am amazed he survived this brutal war that killed so many good men either from a bullet or disease or both.  He and his regiment fought in many battles in Tennessee and Kentucky before joining Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Home destroyed near Atlanta, GA
(Courtesy theatlantic.com)

     As my father (who was fortunate to know his great grandfather) told me, my great, great grandfather hated all the destruction he saw during the march to the sea.  Homes were burned, crops destroyed and much of the food was taken to feed the army.  War is always devastating and leaves ruin in its wake.  This was one fact my great, great grandfather would never forget.  When you see this type of destruction, it leads to a feeling of hopelessness.
     In the same way, the exiles of Judah who had returned to their land felt hopeless as they saw the utter destruction of their Temple and the city of Jerusalem.  During the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, however, he allowed those who had been in captivity to return to the land with gold and silver that had been taken from the Temple.  God’s Spirit had so moved the King’s heart that what seemed impossible was now coming to pass (Ezra 1).    When the exiles returned, they set to work first on the Temple to rebuild its foundation under Zerubbabel.
     When the Temple foundation was again laid, the people, led by the priests, praised, shouted and rejoiced in what God had done (Ezra 3).  However, there were those older men who cried both for joy as well as sorrow over what had been lost as well.  What a picture of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness we see demonstrated here!  In the middle of hopeless destruction, God will once again raise up the Temple from the ruins.  It will take another 92 years before the walls and gates of Jerusalem will be fully restored under the leadership of Nehemiah, but God sees to it that the work He has begun in restoring the land is completed.  The Lord is faithful in bringing restoration and salvation to His people.
     Often times in our lives, we face trials and battles for which we feel unprepared.  Looking at the death of a loved one, a depleted bank account, joblessness or a host of other scenarios can leave us feeling like my great, great grandfather as he witnessed homes being destroyed.  Ruins all around us can obscure the vision of God who is sovereign over all of life’s affairs.  He is never far from us though it may seem that He is absent.  We need to know and believe that God can create something even better out of our ruins.
     Whatever the state of our lives, we have an advocate and Master builder who can restore what the enemy has stolen from us.  The Creator redeems our lives and rebuilds us brick by brick as we continue to seek His face.
     Today, if you pass through the cities of the South, the neighborhoods are beautiful and no signs of the devastating war can be seen.  Our lives are like that in the hands of our Sovereign God.  He is the “Rebuilder”, “Restorer” and the Resurrection.  When we trust in Him, He will once again restore our hope and joy.  Let us take, in prayer, the ruins of loss, heartache and trouble to Him who alone has the power to restore what the enemy has stolen from us.  We, too, will rejoice as the Children of Judah when we see the Temple of our heart rebuilt and walls of our protection restored.
Selah!
   

Finding Strength in Joy

     All of us are aware that this world brings many problems our way each day.  Life's troubles can weigh us down if we allow them to, but God wants us to live in His joy in spite of our challenges.
Yet, how do we do this?
     First of all, we need to realize that joy is not the same thing as happiness.  Happiness can come and go depending on our circumstances in life.  It is a feeling/emotion.  While it can accompany joy, it is not quite the same thing as joy.  Instead, joy is the calm assurance and peace we have knowing that our Lord is with us in every circumstance.  A good example is found in Nehemiah.
     This book of the Old Testament tells of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah is the governor of this territory and Ezra was the Scribe and priest.  In chapter 8, the people have gathered together to hear the Law of God read to them for they had been exiles in a foreign land for many years.  Their sin before God sent them into exile, but now they had returned.  As Ezra read the Law to them, many wept and sorrowed as they heard the Law they had disobeyed.  Nehemiah, however, spoke:  "Then he said to them, 'Go
your way.  Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to your Lord.  And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"  Did you catch that?  The joy of the Lord is our strength!  When we are too weary to go on, God's supernatural joy will sustain us and give our hearts rest.  It is not  momentary like happiness can be.
     Joy comes from the living presence of God within our hearts.  This is why Paul, even though he was imprisoned, could write these words:  “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 3:1). Phil. 4:3-4 says: “And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”  This very act of rejoicing in Christ deepens our joy as we bring glory to God.
     Secondly, joy comes from the knowledge of our salvation through Christ.  The book of Habakkuk tells us:  Hab. 3:18-19: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; he will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."  Not only does God provide for our salvation but He also helps us to walk through the difficult days we face with a sense of joy that the world cannot know.
     Finally, we find not only a deeper joy but also greater strength as we immerse ourselves in God's Word.  Jeremiah 15:16 reads: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."  When we discover who we are and who God is through the reading of His Word, we find real joy.  The Bible is living and brings to us the truth that we hunger for as Jeremiah describes.  This alone satisfies us like nothing else.
     Having a heart filled with joy does not mean that we will skip merrily through life with no painful situations.  Jesus went to the cross and endured its shame "for the joy that was set before Him" (Heb. 12:2) and James tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials..." (James 1:2-4).  Why?  Because as we face life with God's joy, He supplies the strength we need.  We come out having learned lessons we could not have understood had we not gone through the trials.
     I have mentioned in earlier devotions that I used to have a sign above our computer that read:  "Joy isn't the absence of sorrow.  It is the presence of God".  That makes all the difference in the world dear friends.  Living for Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit has made our lives whole in a way that the world will never understand.  What we have in Him money cannot buy.  Therefore, let us begin each day rejoicing in the joy of the Lord for He provides our strength and all we need.  Selah!

Unrealistic Expectations of Ourselves and Others

   
 One of the greatest deceptions our culture offers today is the ability to be able to wear many hats and do all things well.  If we do not, then, something must be lacking in us or we are "lazy".   For many young homemakers, working mothers, as well as their husbands this unrealistic expectation can be crushing.  I have heard comments like this:  "I must be a horrible parent since I cannot attend that classroom activity this week" or "I know God must be disappointed in me since I cannot go on that mission trip."  We can beat ourselves up, but is this really what God expects of us?
     In the Book of Micah, the prophet tells the people of Israel what God desires from them.  They had been living in disobedience to the Lord, so Micah asks a question and then answers:  "Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Chapter 6:7-8).  We can endeavor to be at every event, show up for church every Sunday, go on all the mission trips we want, but in the end, what is our motive?  According to Micah, God does not care about our activity performance.  All of the activities may be good but what God wants is our heart and commitment.
     When I was busy raising our four children and teaching them at home, I participated in what I was able to manage remembering that my first calling was to our children's upbringing and education.  However, I fully admit that there were times when I felt "less than" because I wasn't able to participate in some church event or other community activity.  Fortunately, my husband would remind me that none of us can do it all.  He pointed out that performance does not gain us points with God.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  As Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
     Too often, we buy into the world's idea that we have to be a super hero able to leap tall laundry piles, fix every broken pipe, mend a child's wounded heart, get the meal on the table with ease and still have time to go to work and read through the Bible in a year.  Am I right?  We demand far more from ourselves than God does.  What we need to do is sit down in prayer with God and ask Him what He has called us to do in our life?  After all, He has given to us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. The condemnation we often feel is not from God but from the Enemy of our souls who tries to make us feel like a loser.
     In the same way, we need to avoid judging others harshly when they do not meet our expectations.  Some of the things I have learned over the forty three years of our marriage is that: 1) My husband is not a mind reader.  I have to communicate with him so he knows what I would like him to do.  2) We both have our faults.  Neither one of us is perfect so we should not expect that the other person will do everything just the way we want them to do it.  Finally, 3) We tend to pick out things in one another that we find annoying because we may have the same issue ourselves.  Unrealistic expectations of our spouse, friends, pastors, or co-workers will damage our relationship to them.  Therefore, we need to go back to square one and remember what Micah told the Israelites:  we are to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.  Humbly is the operative word here.
     No matter how hard we may strive to be all things to all people, we will find that it is impossible to meet all the demands made on us.  What we need to remember is that our significance and worth as a person is found in Jesus Christ not in our performance.  So, when those feelings of guilt rise up because we cannot go to whatever activity it is, we need to think on what it is that God has called us to do and be.  We are complete in Him, and before we step out the door to attend another event we really don't have time for, we need to ask ourselves what our motive is.  Saying "no" is not a sin, and feeling guilty does not come from the Lord.  Let us evaluate our activities based upon godly priorities for our life and calling.  Selah!


Picture of the Stetson courtesy of Wiki Commons in the public domain.

Making a Change

 
 One of the hardest things we have to do in this life is to make changes.  Whether it is giving up a bad habit, moving to another location, or adapting to a new diet, we need God's grace to help us along the way.  I have found this out with my new lifestyle program I am taking right now.
     As many of you know, I discovered that I had a diagnosis of heart disease back in July.  In fact, my heart required a stent.  It was a big wake up call for me.  I had two choices: continue to do what I had been doing with the hope that medication would keep me healthy or make some other lifestyle changes.  For me, the choice was not complicated.  I did not want to depend solely on medication to keep me going so I entered cardiac rehab.  There I have been learning how to improve my health through diet and exercise.  Rehab also led me to the CHIP program (Cardiac Health Improvement Program).  It is a major departure from the way I used to eat focusing only on plant based eating and eliminating high sodium and animal products.
     Today, I spent time pulling things out of my cupboard that I can no longer eat.  It is amazing how many things I needed to get rid of, but it is worth it to regain my health.  While this program helps me to lose weight, the primary goal is overall health.  The change is big, but when your health is at stake, most of us are willing to do whatever it takes.  Likewise, the same should be true in our walk with Christ.
     According to the Apostle Paul, when we became a believer in Jesus Christ, the old man died and we have become new creations.  In his letter to the Corinthian Church, he writes:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come"  (2 Corinthians 5:17).  God gives us a new heart, removes our sin and imputes the righteousness of Christ to our lives.  It is a miraculous and life changing event.  Who could ever imagine that the God of the Universe would do this for us, but He has!
     All this being said, we also have a part.  Our part is to open our hearts up to God daily that the Holy Spirit might convict us of any areas which we have not fully yielded to the Lord.  It is an ongoing process not a one time event.  We will not be perfected in this world, but we must remember that we are changed by His grace and power.  Therefore, we must put away sin, and leave behind our old flesh with its habits, temptations, and weakness.
     Being a believer in this world today means we must go against the flow of society that is steadily marching towards the wide gate that leads to Hell.  We may lose friends, jobs or even our life, but we have a salvation that is sure.  This, too, is a life or death matter when it comes to change just like my diet.
     I have already had many well meaning people tell me that this won't work or that I will quit when my educational classes conclude.  However, I have a different resolve now than I did before.  I know how serious my health status will be if I return to eating and living as I did before this incident.  As I told my husband, it is a shame I didn't do something before this, but so often, we are complacent until there is a wake-up call.  I do not want the same thing to happen in my spiritual life either.
     We have been warned in Scripture to: "8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour" (I Peter 5:8).  Therefore, we need to make changes.  Make time for God in prayer.  Study His Word daily, and do not miss the opportunity to worship together with a church family.  This is how the Holy Spirit will work within us to grow us, cleanse us and continually fill us with the power to live each day going against the flow.  Let us begin to make changes in how we live for Christ that we might not be caught off guard when difficulties come.  Our spiritual health is at stake!  Selah!
   

Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons author Cheryl

God's Sweet Providence

   

 I do not believe in coincidence, but I do believe in God.  He is a God that meets all our needs and cares for us on a daily basis.  How do I know?  Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of seeing His hand deliver me from Bulbar Poliomyelitis when I asked for healing as a child of six.  Then, God used my teacher training from college so that I might teach our children at home.  Finally, I saw God's hand guiding a doctor to place a stent in my heart and preserve my life.  So I find it hard to understand why people fail to recognize the Lord's sovereign work in our lives.
     According to Webster's 1828 American Dictionary, providence means "the care and superintendence which God exercises over His creatures."  Indeed, we know that God created the whole universe and all that is in it.  He is sovereign over all of it, maintains it by His mighty power, and sent His only Son to offer redemption to those He has chosen from before the foundation of this world.  Yet there are those, today, who say that this universe was a result of "the Big Bang".  They deny a sovereign Creator who has marvelously made all that we see.  The Apostle Paul described this in his letter to the Romans.
     In chapter 1 verses 18-23, we read:  "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."  Several things stand out in this passage.  First, men choose to suppress the truth.  Hasn't this been the history of man since the Garden of Eden?  God has revealed Himself through the things that are seen in the magnificence of His creation.  Instead of worshipping this great God of creation, the God of Providence who is Sovereign, they choose to follow the inclinations of their own hearts worshipping idols.  Furthermore, the life of Christ demonstrated God's love and care for us.
     Jesus Christ called Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).  We know that shepherds care for their sheep, but Jesus went even further by laying down His life for His sheep.  He protects, guides, feeds and nurtures those in His care.  He also will not lose even one that is given to Him by the Father.  This is a picture of God's providential oversight.
     Living in the sheepfold of His care means He will carry us when we are weary.  He will weep with us when we are broken.  He will heal us and bind up our wounds.  Most importantly, He carries our sins and gives us in return His righteousness.  Who would not desire to live in His sweet Providence?
     Having seen God at work in my life over the years I could never deny His tender care.  He has always been there at just the right time.  His promises are certain, and His ways are perfect.  Today, trust in God's providential care for your life.  Tell others of the God that we serve that they too may enter into the perfect rest that can only be found in Him.  Selah!

Sometimes It's Best to Say Nothing

     When I was a little girl, I delighted in talking up a storm.  Some of my relatives thought certainly I would become a lawyer able to argue well in court.  Another thought I might become a missionary.  None of these predictions came true, but I will never forget the day that my mouth got me into trouble.
     Our family had gone to a nice restaurant for dinner one evening and after the bill arrived, I proceeded in my loudest voice (I was around six or seven at the time) to read the prices out loud and ask why it all cost that much.  Of course, my mother quickly silenced me and told me that was not polite in a restaurant.  I didn't know why?  The folks around our table chuckled quite a bit, so I could not see why my mother got so excited.  However, as Proverbs rightly points out:  "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away."  In my case, I learned and am still learning when to speak up and when to hold my tongue.
     Being a good conversationalist means we have to develop the ability to listen to another person before we begin formulating what we will say in response.  We rush our discussions and never give the other person a chance to really express himself.  Part of this begins in the home when we do not train our children to speak with respect and wait their turn to talk.
     Proverbs also gives us a picture of what happens when someone grows up without the benefit of discipline in a loving home based upon scriptural truth and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  In chapter 18:6, we read:  "A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating."  That seems pretty clear.  How many arguments and disputes occur when a person does not guard his words?
     Another verse in the same chapter reads:  "A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul" (vs. 7).  Again and again, we see people say things which they later regret.  Without God's wise counsel working in our lives, our mouths can betray our darkened heart of sin.  Rightly Jesus said:  "it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person" (Matthew 15:11).
     Recently, I saw a Geico commercial that was not only funny but made a point.  A man watching T.V. sees a Geico ad and tells the lady sitting next to him that a person could save 15% on car insurance.  She replies that everyone knows that.  He comes back with the comment, "Yes, but did you know that words can really hurt you?"  The scene shifts to a cowboy leaving a pretty lady saying that he is a loner and just needs to be alone.  He turns to ride off in the sunset leaving her weeping in the dust when a sign drops down that reads "The End".  As the cowboy rides off, he hits the letter "E" and is knocked off his horse.  Yes, it is a bad joke, but it does make a point because words do hurt more than we realize.  A careless remark, a disrespectful reply, a whiny answer, or an angry accusation can all be destructive in relationships or at work.  Therefore, it behooves Christians to set a guard over their lips as they go about their daily encounters.  Learn to speak less and listen more.
     In Proverbs 27:27-28, we gain affirmation that we need to watch our words:  "Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent."  As believers, we need to consider guarding our words so that what we do say will glorify God and edify others.  May we take this lesson from Proverbs and allow the Spirit to apply it to our hearts.  Selah!
   

Hide and Seek

     Our grandchildren Briggs and Beckett love to play hide and seek.  They came to our home on Friday night while our son did some work and one of their first requests was to play "hide and seek".  The only problem is that Beckett, who is three, keeps revealing where someone is hiding.  When his brother Briggs is trying to hide, he goes with him and then comes back to me to show me where he is.  I have tried to explain to him that it takes all the fun out of the hunt when you tell someone where the other person is hiding, but I don't think he yet understands.  Nevertheless, they still enjoy this game.
While hiding from grandchildren brings giggles and fun, it is quite another story when it comes to hiding from God.  In fact, we can't.

A fig leaf

     Adam and Eve had a perfect environment where all their needs were met, and they enjoyed intimate, unbroken relationship with God their Creator.  Nothing could have been more idyllic until that day when they disobeyed God.  The story is told in Genesis 3.
     God had told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die.  Yet, Eve chose to believe the lies of Satan who challenged God's credibility assuring Eve she would not surely die if she ate from that tree.  Tempted, she fell and enticed her husband to join her in sin.  Their fault was not eating the fruit, but in disobeying God.  So what was their response?
     First, they sewed together fig leaves to cover themselves because they knew they were naked.  In doing this, they revealed their shame.  They knew they had broken fellowship with God because He had commanded them not to eat of the tree.  The Bible tells us:  "Then the eyes of both were opened..." (Gen. 3:7a).  This is when they realized that everything was changed.  Now, instead of intimate fellowship with God, they were afraid of Him.
     Genesis 3:8-10 tells us:  "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?'  And he said, 'I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.'"  Now certainly the God of all creation knew where Adam and Eve were.  He wasn't asking about their geographical location, but what He wanted from them was an admission of what they had done.  They thought they would obtain freedom and be like God knowing good and evil, but instead, they were now cowering in fear before the Lord wrapped in the chains of sin.
     When they did emerge from their hiding place, they began to blame their disobedience on someone else.  Adam blamed Eve, and she blamed the snake.  However, they both knew they had transgressed against God, and ultimately, the consequence of their sin brought death into this world.
This is the history of mankind.  It all began in the Garden, but fortunately, it did not end there.
     With the judgement of God came a promise of a deliverer who would overcome sin and death.  It was a promise to Adam and Eve and fulfilled in Jesus Christ the Son of God.  He perfectly kept the Law of God as the second Adam.  There was no sin in Him, and yet, He paid the price for our sins on the cross.  His resurrection forever broke the bondage for all who believe in Him.  So why do we still hide from God today?
     People today don't hide behind trees like Adam and Eve did, but we hide nevertheless.  Some hide behind their title.  Still others hide behind fame, riches, or possessions.  People may wear a mask thinking that no one (especially God) can really see who they are or what they think.  But God does see and know where we are.  Just as He called to Adam and Eve, He calls to us "Where are you?"  Those who answer that call, confess their sins and trust in Christ alone for their salvation are set free from sin and death.  This is the Gospel plain and simple.  And yes, there is no place we can hide from God.  Read Psalm 139 written by King David to know the truth of that statement.
     While the game of "hide and seek" with our grandchildren is a source of entertainment, hiding from God is deadly serious.  Our eternal destination is at stake.  Not only is heaven for real...so is hell.  The Good News is that we can once again walk in the cool of the morning with God in rich fellowship through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  In Him, we live and move and have our being.  Selah!