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!

Caring for God's Creation

     From the beginning of creation, God assigned to man the task of caring for His creation.  He was to work the ground and have dominion over every living creature.  Genesis 1:26-28 tells us:  "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  And God blessed them.  And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
     What a great responsibility and privilege was given to man and woman.  They were created to bear the image of God and to tend all the good things He had created.  However, we know from the story told in Genesis 3 that Adam and Eve sinned against and broke fellowship with Him.  The harmony which the Lord had created was now broken.  No longer would man be able to easily work the ground, and even the relationship to all creation was disrupted including the care for and treatment of animals.  To see how the perfect creation which God has made has fallen into disrepair since the Fall of Man, we have only to look at the news.  Disappearing species of animals, pollution,
and disease has taken its toll on both creatures and man alike.  Paul wrote these words in Romans 8:21-22: "21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now."  With the fall, we have all seen the corruption of sin and its effects upon this world.  Recently, some terrible examples have been prominent in the headlines.
     A man in Arcadia, FL poured gasoline over his dog and set him on fire.  The animal was not killed but suffered serious burns.  He was rescued and underwent weeks of intensive treatment to save his life and his vision.  A team of veterinarians in the Tampa Bay area worked very hard to save his life.  Seeing recent pictures of this dog demonstrates his return to health.  We can only shake our head in wonder as to how someone could do such a thing.
     In another case, as yet unresolved, the police found a dog drowned with a cinder block tied to it.  No one knows who did this deed but again, why would someone want to harm an innocent animal?  There are rescue shelters, ads that can be placed in the newspaper, and even neighbors who might want this dog.  However, it all goes back to the heart of the problem.  Man is fallen.  His heart is darkened by sin and he only thinks of himself.  This spreads to every relationship and to the treatment of animals.

When God regenerates a heart and man turns from his sin to Christ, we see a different picture.  No longer is man cruel to his neighbor or to the beasts which God has given to his care.
     Proverbs 12:10 reads:  "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel."  The footnote in my Reformation Study Bible says:  "God takes account of our treatment of animals.  This is consistent with concern for the right order of things in the world.  The wicked person is incapable of kindness even towards his livestock."  There is the difference between those who have a new heart from God through Christ and those who do not.
     A friend of mine told me that we can tell a lot about a man's character by how he treats his animals, and I have to agree.  Cruelty to animals, disregard for God's creation, and animosity towards others all point to a fallen nature.  As my husband would say, "It all goes back to the Garden."
     Through Christ, we have the privilege of having our sins forgiven through His sacrifice on the cross.  We receive a new heart and see all that God has created through His eyes.  With that new outlook,  we are meant to love one another and fulfill the mandate which God gave to man from the beginning.  Having dominion over this earth and creation means we are to take care of it for the glory of God.  As believers, let us look with new wonder at all that God has made.  Then, may we be found faithful to care for God's creation as He has called us to do.  Selah!

Passing the Buck

     When our children were growing up, we had an invisible person living in our home.  He would create all kinds of messes, be destructive and cause extra work.  We heard about him all the time though especially when our children were afraid they would be in trouble.  His name was "Mr. Nobody".  Each time we would ask who had broken something, we heard the reply, "I don't know."  Therefore, we knew it had to be "Mr. Nobody".  Isn't it funny how from children to adults we like to pass the buck?  No one wants to accept responsibility for bad decisions or for hurtful actions.  Thus, we have developed a culture that points their finger at everyone else but themselves.  It is never their fault.  So how has our country gone so far afield from honesty, the God ordained work ethic, and accepting responsibility for poor choices?  The answer is quite simple.  It started in the Garden.
     Adam and Eve were in a perfect environment with all of their needs met and the Lord Himself communed with them daily.  His only command was that they not eat from the tree of good and evil (Genesis 2:4-3:24).  As we may remember, Satan came in the form of a serpent and questioned God's command about not eating of the fruit making Eve doubt God.  She succumbed to temptation first and then Adam ate the fruit as well.  Their disobedience led to the fall of all mankind who has ever since inherited the sin nature.  Satan had lured them with the promise that they would be like God.  From that moment to this, man has by his inherited sin nature, desired to control his own life and do as he/she wants to do with no constraints.
     Throughout the Bible we see example after example of those who sinned and made excuses for their actions.  One of the better stories comes from the book of Exodus.  Moses has led his people out of captivity in Egypt.  He is assisted by his brother Aaron who serves as his spokesman and later who becomes the first high priest to God.  Moses has anointed him and set him, along with his sons, apart as ministers before the Lord.  Not only has he been given a special office before the Lord, but Aaron has also witnessed all the miracles which God did in Egypt.  This should cement his faith and belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  However, Aaron, like us, has a tug of war going on inside.  His sin nature, though defeated, can still rear its ugly head when he is tempted.
     In chapter 32 of Exodus, Moses has been gone from the people for a long time receiving The Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai.  The people grew restless waiting and came to Aaron desiring him to make them a golden calf so they could worship it as the god who delivered them.  Aaron did not seem to hesitate when he was asked to do this, and called for everyone to give their jewelry to him.  With the melted gold, a calf was fashioned and the people rose up to play and feast.
     Nothing was hidden from God and He told Moses that the people were sinning.  When Moses came down from the mountain and saw the people playing before a golden idol, he threw the tablets containing God's commands down in anger.  Moses asked a very pointed question of Aaron his brother and high priest:  "What did this people do to you that thou have brought such a great sin upon them?" (vs.21).  Of course, Aaron tried to calm Moses by telling him that the people were set on evil. Once again the "buck is passed."
     As he continues his explanation about the people wanting gods who would go before them since they didn't know if Moses would return, he merely obliged them.  He concludes his explanation by stating in verse 24:  "So I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off.'  So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."  When I read that verse, I had to laugh.  What an explanation!  Obviously, Aaron had a poor answer.  Sin never has a good answer for the destruction it brings.  It merely passes the buck and puts the responsibility on someone or something else.
     Moses did what we all need to do.  He recognized sin for what it is and called it out.  He asked the people in vs. 26 "Who is on the Lord's side?  Come to me."  We have to decide when confronted with temptation whose side are we on.  Will we take the easy road and go with the crowd as Aaron did or will we boldly stand for Christ?  Following the Lord means allowing Him daily to put more and more of our sin nature to death so that holiness and righteousness flow out of our lives.
     God desires for us to be formed into the image of His dear Son whom He sent to pay for our sins.  Accepting God's gift of salvation is the first step, but it is a journey.  Being a Christian means denying self, taking up our cross and following Him rather than making excuses, blaming others, and avoiding the consequences that come with sin.  We are not "buck passers" but ambassadors for Christ who are here to lead others into the truth of God's redemption.  Therefore, we are called to live in direct opposition to the world system all around us.  We are citizens of heaven and are aliens here.  As believers, let us be certain to live in such a way that others will see Jesus Christ living in us.  Let our yes be yes and our no be no as the Lord said.  Then others will want to know why we aren't passing the buck or chasing after all the baubles in this world.  With all this in mind, we have to examine ourselves and ask the question which Moses posed so well, "Who is on the Lord's side?"  If we are, we must live like it every day.  Selah!
 

The Beauty of Commitment

Our daughter, son-in-law, Rilyn and Gavin...number three
will be here soon!

     I am feeling very blessed tonight as I reflect on some things I have seen lately.  It is not often that you meet two people very much in love after sixty-six years of marriage, but they came into our office the other day.  She came in for an eye problem, and he came for moral support.  Since my husband is very thorough in his profession, it took some time.  Her husband began to worry about her saying, "I hope she is all right.  You know we haven't been apart for sixty-six years."  I assured him that she was fine and would return soon.  He went on to describe how they met and married very young and raised three fine daughters.  They came from the Midwest and every winter, they came to Florida to meet up with the many friends they had made here  He told me that if he had it to do all over again, he would marry her in a minute.
     As soon as she came out, he smiled from ear to ear delighted to see his bride.  Anyone could see the love between them.  When he took her hand as they were ready to leave, I thanked God for the blessing and covenant of marriage.  This is what it is meant to look like.  Growing old together and facing the good and the bad hand in hand.
     Then, today, I received a text message with a picture of the sweet face of our granddaughter yet to be born.  Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson went to have a special sonogram so they could see this little lamb.  In just nine weeks, she will make her appearance on the grand stage of life.  This, too, is what commitment and love in Christ bring into a family.  God's gracious gift of children is a priceless reminder of His love.
     Gavin our four year old grandson was in awe of his new, waiting to be born sister who will join him and little Rilyn at the beginning of March.  I can see many tea parties in their future along with other creative fun.
     What a juxtaposition of people!  One older couple demonstrating a life long commitment to one another and still very much in love.  Then at the opposite end of the spectrum is our daughter and son-in-law ready to greet another child.  This is the picture that God wanted to paint from the beginning of time that man would love Him and then love one another.
     Indeed, my husband and I have had the blessing and privilege of having four gifts from God's gracious hands.  Three of them are married to wonderful Christian spouses, and we now have seven going on eight grandchildren. A friend of mine told me today that we are rich.  I have to agree.  We are not rich as the world counts wealth, but we are rich in what God deems important.
     As I read my Bible today, I came across this passage in Genesis 2.  After God saw that Adam needed a helper that was fit for him, he took a rib from his side and created woman.  Verse 23-24 read:  "Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.'  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."  When the writer uses the term "Hold fast", he is referring to a covenant commitment.  We are never more like our covenant keeping God than when a man and a woman pledge themselves in covenant to one another.  In marriage, we see God's relationship to His people.
     This is what I saw in the past few days.  The commitment and love of the older couple and the joy of our daughter and her husband as they prepare for a new baby.  Love is like that.  This is why God sent His only Son as the greatest gift to us that we might have relationship with Him.  Jesus came to die and to give His life as a ransom for many.  He has made it possible for us to have abundant, full, and loving relationship to the Father and to one another.  Without Him at the center of our lives, we will never experience the freedom from sin and the love for others that we can have...that I personally saw demonstrated in that older couple.
     God calls us to commitment.  First and most importantly to His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Then, He calls us to commitment in our relationships, to our family and to our work in this life.  There is beauty and satisfaction in this.  We can only see it when God opens our eyes.  Look at your commitments today.  Cherish them and work on them for His glory.  You never know whose heart you will touch by living for Christ.  Selah!