Paradise Lost – Part 2

Man As A Steward

A steward is a person who is a manager of another’s goods. With such responsibility there always comes a day of reckoning. Sooner or later, the time arrives when the steward will be called upon to render a personal accounting.
“And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26

The World Belongs To God

God says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1.
The Lord entrusted the management of things on earth to man. “And the Lord God took man, and put him into the garden to dress it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15, Psalm 115:16, Gen. 1:28

God Reserved The Portion Of The Garden Of Eden For Himself

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17.

This tree of knowledge of good and evil became the test of man’s acknowledgement of God’s ownership of all things.
When the day of reckoning came what questions were asked?

“Where art thou?… Who told thee that thou wast naked? Has thou eaten of the tree, where of I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?…. What is this that thou hast done?” Gen. 3:9-13.

When Adam And Eve Failed (Genesis 3:6)

God, “drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24.

Unfaithfulness on the part of man was sin. When Adam and Eve deliberately chose to turn their backs on Him, the relationship was broken. Through sin, they severed the link with their source of life and happiness. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2.

The Results Of Sin

“And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.

Through sin, man was lost – eternally lost – without God, and without hope in the world. Sin had made a gulf between him and God so deep and so wide that he was helpless to bridge it. Man’s own righteousness became as ?filthy rags’. His sin was so great that all his treasures could not purchase his pardon. Said the inspired Old Testament prophet: “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression.” Micah 6:6,7.

The Apostle Peter answers the question “ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18,19.

Salvation from sin is free. As man accepts it as a free gift from the hands of his Redeemer, let him not value it any less because he pays nothing for it. Let him remember that it was purchased from him at infinite cost.

The plan of Salvation

“Sorrow filled heaven, as it was realized that man was lost, and that world which God had created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death, and there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die. I saw the lovely Jesus and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon His countenance. Soon I saw Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father. Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with His Father. The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with His Father. Three times He was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father, His person could be seen. His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and doubt, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express. He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He told them that He had been pleading with His Father, and had offered to give His life a ransom, to take the sentence of death upon Himself, that through Him man might find pardon; that through the merits of His blood, and obedience to the law of God, they could have the favor of God, and be brought into the beautiful garden, and eat of the fruit of the tree of life.” EW 149

The love of God

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

The only way the relationship could be restored was by God, in the person of Christ, throwing Himself across the gap sin had made and closing the circuit sin had broken! The first picture we have of God after the intrusion of sin is of Him searching for man and calling out to find him. Not that God didn’t know where Adam and Eve were hiding. Of course, He knew; He knows everything, but He wanted them – and us – to know that He still cared!

Among the first questions in the Bible is, “Where art thou?” Genesis 3:9. This is a question addressed by a searching God to His erring children. And the first question in the New Testament is, “Where is he?” Mat. 2:2. A question addressed by men seeking to be reconciled to God. The Old Testament record of man’s rebellion opens with the picture of man hiding from God. The New Testament opens with the picture of man following the star to find the way back to God through Christ. Matthew 2:1-10.

Among the first recorded words of man to God in the Old Testament is the statement, “I was afraid… And I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10. How sad! But the reverse side of the coin in the New Testament portrays heavenly heralds delivering to man the message from God “Fear not… for unto you is born… a Saviour Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10,11.

God is searching for you

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

My friend, Jesus has put everything aside to search for you! He laid aside His kingly robe, left heaven above, the fellowship of the Father and association with heavenly angels to come down into this world of sin and woe to rescue you and me! He considers us His diamonds – worth searching for!

In the gospel of John 10:11, Jesus reveals Himself to the world as “the good Shepherd.” What a beautiful appealing picture this should conjure in our minds! When the true Shepherd discovers even one sheep missing, He determines to search until He finds it! He does not say “Well I have ninety and nine; let the other one come back and I will open the door of the sheep fold and let him in.”

No! The true Shepherd cannot sleep while even one sheep is missing – just one – the very least number. The darker the night, the more violent the storm, the more anxious the Shepherd is. Out He goes even at the peril of His life to find the missing sheep.

When finally the lamb, or sheep, is located He does not scold it for the trouble it has caused Him. He does not whip it or drive it. He does not even lead it! Tenderly He gathers the trembling little animal in His arms, pressing it close to His bosom, shields it from the storm with His cloak and tenderly bears it back safely.

So, Jesus is searching for you today! He has left everything in heaven to come and search for you. He has given everything – His life – to take you to safety. It matters not how wicked you may have been – how far down into the depths of sin you may have fallen – the good Shepherd can, and will, find you and lift you out of the evil pit. Do not doubt His desire and His ability to help you.!

“Desponding soul, take courage, even though you have done wickedly. Do not think that perhaps God will pardon your transgressions and permit you to come into His presence. God has made the first advance. While you were in rebellion against Him, He went forth to seek you. With the tender heart of the shepherd He left the ninety and nine and went out into the wilderness to find that which was lost. The soul, bruised and wounded and ready to perish, He encircles in His arms of love and joyfully bears it to the fold of safety.” COL 188

Friend of mine, won’t you surrender to Him now – yes right now just where you are? Just claim the promises of God’s Word – repent, ask for forgiveness and cleansing. Believe He forgives your sins because He has promised it so. Accept Him and His help promising to follow Him the remainder of your life. Rest yourself in Him. Believe He can, and will, do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. Then He is yours and you are His – it is so because He says it is.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“Him cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

Dear reader, Jesus calls you today – won’t you come? Yes, you right now this very moment? “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” the wise man reminds each one of us. Proverbs 27:1.

Today we are all well and strong with a life expectancy of many years. Tomorrow, or at some more convenient time, we will prepare for death. Today we want to live life to the fullest. We want to do as we please “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Mat. 6:34.

“Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Cor. 6:2

My friend, if you are one who is yet lingering in the valley of decision, who has not yet made up your mind to follow the Saviour all the way and prepare for heaven, I appeal to you right now – do not put it off.

Tomorrow may be too late! “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” The grim reaper, death, may come to your door sooner than you think! In life is the time to prepare for death. “Behold, now is the accepted time.”
Amen,

Golden Kayawa Hingabantu, Zambia