It was the first blame game, and we've been paying the price ever since. It's the legendary story of the fall of man; the first sin. Back in a garden paradise, our first parents were seduced by the tempter, and ate of the forbidden fruit. Rather than personally taking the blame, Adam and Eve chose to point fingers: ""The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate ... The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Genesis 3.12,13) All finger pointing aside, they were responsible, and we live with the curse even today.
The legend of the fall would be a hopeless story if it weren't for a specific promise in the midst of the meting out of the curse. Addressing the serpent, the LORD God declared, "I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." (Genesis 3.15). That "He" makes all the difference. Bruised on "the heel" by the serpent through His suffering and crucifixion, He in turn has bruised Satan "on the head" through the vindication of resurrection and exaltation.
The victory is won, but the battle remains: "I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed". Until victory is fully consummated at the return of Jesus, the conflict of the ages continues to rage, and sometimes we fall victim. Sin seduces, and we easily play the same blame game as our first parents.
We've been living east of Eden (Genesis 3.24) ever since the legendary fall. Paradise was lost, and we've been longing for it ever since. The tempter is adept at throwing every imaginable pseudo-paradise at us to lure us away from our true longing, and often with regrettable success. The lure of wealth, success, and indulgent pleasure sway the undiscerning, and divert pursuit of the true paradise.
Paradise lost will be paradise found for those who make kingdom of God pursuit their priority (Matthew 6.33). As advertisements for quality products often state: "accept no substitutes!". Anything less than wholehearted pursuit of the paradise of the coming kingdom is not worthy of the efforts of God's people.
There is a seed of hope that springs from the legend of the fall. Paradise lost is not lost forever. God specializes in the restoration business, and His central plan involves the woman's seed, the Christ. The enemy's present stand is his last stand; defeat is certain: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16.20)
With the victory assured, let's focus our longings for paradise lost on the paradise to come.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
The legend of the fall would be a hopeless story if it weren't for a specific promise in the midst of the meting out of the curse. Addressing the serpent, the LORD God declared, "I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." (Genesis 3.15). That "He" makes all the difference. Bruised on "the heel" by the serpent through His suffering and crucifixion, He in turn has bruised Satan "on the head" through the vindication of resurrection and exaltation.
The victory is won, but the battle remains: "I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed". Until victory is fully consummated at the return of Jesus, the conflict of the ages continues to rage, and sometimes we fall victim. Sin seduces, and we easily play the same blame game as our first parents.
We've been living east of Eden (Genesis 3.24) ever since the legendary fall. Paradise was lost, and we've been longing for it ever since. The tempter is adept at throwing every imaginable pseudo-paradise at us to lure us away from our true longing, and often with regrettable success. The lure of wealth, success, and indulgent pleasure sway the undiscerning, and divert pursuit of the true paradise.
Paradise lost will be paradise found for those who make kingdom of God pursuit their priority (Matthew 6.33). As advertisements for quality products often state: "accept no substitutes!". Anything less than wholehearted pursuit of the paradise of the coming kingdom is not worthy of the efforts of God's people.
There is a seed of hope that springs from the legend of the fall. Paradise lost is not lost forever. God specializes in the restoration business, and His central plan involves the woman's seed, the Christ. The enemy's present stand is his last stand; defeat is certain: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16.20)
With the victory assured, let's focus our longings for paradise lost on the paradise to come.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:45 AM
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