Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
A new “Adult Sabbath School Study Guide” lesson quarterly for our second quarter of 2022 titled “Genesis”, and our first lesson titled “The Creation”. I really like the introduction on pages 2-3. As it so pithily states, “here, in this book, is the world’s only ‘official’ account of our origins”. Amen! Surprising, is it not, that our prevailing scientific community is so loath to include the authority of the only One who was present when this world came into being. If only that community would place God in their formulations.
Our lesson this week looks at that perfect creation… before the fall. There are some fundamental directives and gifts for Adam and Eve that shows us God’s intent for us, His children, in all ages:
· To “replenish the earth” or to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). This is still our task. To “have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (ibid). This earth is our home. And like a home, we need to take care of it. We need to be a good and faithful steward of our home. We also are to bear and raise children… to the glory of God.
· To “tend and keep” (Genesis 2;15) what God had given the Holy pair. And so, for all His children since, too. We are to cultivate (tend) and cherish (keep) the gifts of God to each of us. This is part of our Divine calling.
· As it is “not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18), God made woman. But not so man and woman would live in carnal union. But so, they would live in divine union. “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Divine marriage is still ours to have.
What an unholy mess we’ve made of God’s gifts to us! We have virtually abolished marriage, in favor of partnerships… or casual relationships. We have born children to be raised by single parents, or worse… our culture and our school system. We have disregarded God’s gracious gifts to us personally. Gifts of faith, trust, virtue, courage, fidelity, truth, and the crowning gift of love. We have largely misused our earthly home and have not been faithful stewards. We have fouled our own nest. We have “said in (our) heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14;1; 53;1). Therefore, we are our own god. Just like Satan whispered to Eve in the garden.
Yet, all of God’s directives and gifts can still be ours… if we will. God is gracious and “does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, (He) is glad with all good men when truth prevails” (1 Corinthians 13:6). God can and will heal all the damage sin has done. And we can start anew. As Jesus says, it is like being “born again” (John 3: 3.7).
As we study this quarter let us look for the goodness and love of God for His children. Children that have wandered far from Home and have lost trust in their “Father”. Let us watch for how that Father works to restore trust, to talk a language the children can understand, and how He works to lead us back Home. The "Creator" can surely re-create.
With brotherly love,
Jim