The Lord Never Abandoned Man

       You know that picture you see of man in a sinful state beside a chasm or deep void with God on the other side.  Somehow that picture always stayed with me when I read Genesis chapter three and the ‘fall’ of man.  I imagined Adam and Eve outside of the garden on the other side of that void unable to be in God’s presence because of his sin, but that wasn’t so- God immediately made a way. 

       The Lord came back, knowing what they’d done, to walk in the garden and talk with them while in their sinful state and too ashamed to be seen by Him.  Adam and Eve decided to throw the blame on others and lie to the One who created them and whom they were obviously used to walking with.  Then after He kicked them out of the garden (consequences remained), He still met with mankind outside the garden and they talked. 

…And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence (Strong’s 6440) of Jehovah God… Gen. 3:8  (The Lord still came and talked with them, and clothed them.)

And Jehovah said to Cain… Gen 4:6,9  (Cain spoke back to the Lord. v. 9,13)

And Cain went out from the presence (6440) of Jehovah Gen. 4:16

And Jacob called the name of the place Face of God; for I have seen God face (6440) to face (6440)… Gen. 32:30 

And Jehovah would speak to Moses face (6440) to face (6440), as a man speaks to his friend.… Ex. 33:11 

       God’s presence/ face was still available to Adam, his children, and later generations as seen in Jacob and Moses.  6440 in the TWOT* is the word panim or face.  The face is characterized by some personal quality, and is extraordinarily revealing of man’s, or in these cases, God’s emotions, moods, and dispositions.  There are some impressions you can get by a person speaking over the telephone, but to fully read their emotions, mood and disposition, you need to see them in person.

But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you… Is. 59:2

Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me. Jh. 14:6

       So man has the potential to be forgiven by God and to be in His presence.  Adam and Eve were clothed by God with the first dead animal skin- blood sacrifice covering sin.  Cain and Abel brought sacrifices.  Obviously early on they understood the repercussions of sin and the forgiveness of God.  We can still be in God’s presence today all because forgiveness is available by the blood of Jesus Christ.  (The cross in the chasm…  God put it there.)

       I also like to think we can still see the Lord face to face, but so far He hasn’t blessed me that way.  Still, I strive for it knowing that if it never happens while I am here in this flesh, it will surely happen when I awake in Heaven and I will be fully satisfied to finally see Him.  (Ps. 17:15)

*Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

Fear of Dad

       Albert (my hubby) grew up on a farm with only one field between him and the one room grade school he attended.  The benefits were hot lunches and short walk to school, but the negatives were no snow days and being the only grade 8 student.  Anyway, before he started school (grade one in those days) he ran through the field with his little tool box one day to bring home a prize. 

This before a holy God...

       In those days, most county kids rode their bikes to school; a few bikes which had colourful tassels that captivated him, coming out of the handle bars.  So Albert took his little saw and cut those tassels off, then dodged through the field to get home without getting caught.  He hid those tassels under his bed but unfortunately didn’t realize the evidence he left behind- his little saw.

       The teacher dealt with it, Mom dealt with it, I’m sure his brother gave him grief, but none of those were as bad as waiting for Dad to get home from work.  Sure enough, Dad didn’t speak much, but the spanking he received put a little more fear in him for breaking rules.  And he didn’t get to keep the tassels…

Who is the man who fears the LORD? God will teach (direct, show, instruct) him the path he should choose.  His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. Ps. 25:12 ISV, 13 MKJV

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear*, for also, "Our God is a consuming fire." Hb. 12:28,29 (*caution, dread)

       Fear isn’t always a bad thing.  To fear not only means to be afraid but to reverence.  In Albert’s case, it was both respect and afraid to do wrong with his Dad.  Somehow I think today we try to revere God, but fail to be afraid to do wrong.  “Oh, God will forgive me…”  God is a holy God (1Sm. 2:2) and one day judgment will fall, either here on earth in the form of natural consequences to our choices (ex. fornication-pregnancy) by God- on the Judgment Seat (2Cr. 5:10) or the Great White Throne (Rv. 20:11-15). 

…all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. …each one of us will give account concerning himself to God. Rm. 14:10,12

…every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. Mt. 12:36

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad. 2Cr. 5:10

each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is. … If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire. 1Cr. 3:13,15

In Rv. 20:11-15, those who are unsaved (not true Christians) are judged.

Or this...

       June Cleaver and many other tv parents used the line often, “wait til your Father gets home” as a threat to curb bad behaviour.  In our case, it’s “wait til you stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  What if we lived our lives thinking ‘would Jesus approve of me doing this’ before we did something?  I’m sure He wouldn’t approve of where my thoughts go sometimes.  And idle words…  How much will I have to account for?  How much of what I did will be burned up as worthless?

At the very least I should treat God with great respect but also consider that sin is judged and do what I can to become or remain pure.

And everyone who has this hope on him purifies himself,

even as that One is pure.

1Jh. 3:3

Righteousness Through Christ

For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and He watches all his paths.

Pr. 5:21

…For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.

1Sm. 16:7

The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Pr. 15:3

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,

who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;

1Cr. 1:30

(God gives) …to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know. For You, You only, know the hearts of all the sons of Adam. 1Kn. 8:39

I Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jr. 10:17