What was Adam’s sin?

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:14)  I mentioned this when I was talking about theology, but based on this scripture, I believe eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was not Adam’s sin, but rather the result of his sin.  So what was his sin then?  His sin, in my opinion, was that he placed his love for Eve over his love for God.  Men, whether you are married, thinking of getting married, or in any relationship that might lead to marriage, do not let your identity be wrapped up in that relationship.  Don’t let your relationship with your wife, or future wife, define who you are, but rather let your relationship with God define you and your relationship with your wife/future wife.  Take it from a guy who did it the wrong way.  Based on the way I was in the past, I can truthfully say that I would have made the same mistake as Adam did.  And did make the same mistake.  I let my marriage define who I was, and when my marriage started to fail, I floundered for an answer.  And since my identity was wrapped up in my marriage, I had no answers.  Don’t wait until your marriage starts to fall apart to decide you need to let your relationship with God define you.  You need to let your relationship with God define who you are and then that will define your relationship with your wife/future wife.  What does Ephesians tell husbands?  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25)  I believe this is not just talking about His death on the cross.  But is also referring to what He said in John 10 when He was talking about being the good shepherd because, “I lay down my life for the sheep.”  The word ‘life’ there isn’t zoe or bios, referring to the fact that you are alive or that you have breath in your body.  It isn’t referring to giving Himself up to be crucified on the cross.  The word is ‘psuche’, where we get the word ‘psyche’.  Christ was saying that He laid down His own will, desire, ambitions for those of God.  He didn’t say that He would kick out Satan now and take over to rule the Earth forever.  But rather, so that we could know the Father as He did, He would humble Himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)  And, men, that is the same thing that we need to do.  We need to humble ourselves and become obedient to God, the Father.  And then when the storms of life come, you will have someone to anchor yourself in and then you can hang on to your family for dear life and never let them go and, I believe, you will be able to save them.  I had an uncle that was an alcoholic and always fighting.  He was considered a rather mean man, from what I understand.  And my grandmother had the anchor of her life in Jesus and she prayed for him continually.  I have heard that one of my aunts asked her one time why she continued to pray for this uncle, because he was never going to change.  And my grandmother told her that she prayed for him because her prayers were answered.  She had her anchor in God and was not letting go of my uncle no matter what.  I don’t remember if she lived to see it but when he was around 60 or so, he finally saw how much he needed God and surrendered to Him.  There was such a sudden and drastic change in his life, that some of his drinking buddies gave their lives to God as well.  I say this to show that, if you will let your relationship with God define who you are and keep the anchor of your life in Him, then He will take care of the rest. 

Now I know this post has been mostly directed at men.  And is intentionally directed at men.  I know Ephesians tells wives to submit to their husbands, but, men, they can’t submit to you if you aren’t submitted to God.  It is your responsibility, men, to make sure that your house is founded on God.  It isn’t your wife’s responsibility to set the foundations for your home.  She will build on that foundation, if you have made the foundation sure.  So don’t make the same mistake as Adam, but rather let your relationship with God define you and let that relationship define your relationship with your wife/future wife.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

Romans1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

Does this declare the state of mankind today? We have gotten to where we think that we are too wise, too educated to believe in God. That all that we see around us just happened by accident. That we are nothing but animals that have evolved to care about beauty and aesthetics and the things around us. But God says that everything around us He created so that we could see that He is.

For the invisible things of Him are clearly seen by the things that are made. Even His eternal power and Godhead. So even that He is eternal and that He is God can be seen in the things that He has created. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God. The firmaments shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows forth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”

It doesn’t matter what language you speak, when you look up to the stars at night, they display the glory of God to you in your language. They sing at the top of their voices, “There is a Maker who cares for you and I.” But we have gotten to where we think that we are too wise to be able to hear their voice. Sometimes we get confused and think that they are proclaiming that the universe is God. But that is just because we aren’t listening close enough.

In the 17th through the end of the 18th centuries there was a movement called The Enlightenment where philosophers and people who were considered great thinkers decided that man was smart enough on his own and didn’t need God. That we were intelligent enough to understand that God was just the creator of everything but then had nothing more to do with it. And that there was no hell nor a heaven. The more they talked the dumber they got. When we get away from God our wisdom turns to foolishness. We have no wisdom outside of God.

Anytime someone has come up with a great idea, I guarantee that it was because God showed it to them. Whether they recognized it not, God is the source of all wisdom. Galileo was trying to show the glory of God with his discoveries not the glory of science. The same can be said of Newton. They were both great thinkers and considered major part of the Enlightenment movement. But they were not trying to show that God doesn’t exist or that He created everything and then left it to its own devices. Rather they were trying to show what a glorious God He is.

What is man that You are mindful of him?

Psalm 8:3-4 says, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man, that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?”  And then we read in Psalm 139:14-16, “I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Your works; and that my soul knows right well.  My substance was not hid from You, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfected; and in Your book all my days were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”  And again in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”  The thing that strikes me and amazes me completely is this, the God who created all the universe also made me.  And not only that, He made me with a purpose in mind.  He, the God of all the universe, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the One who was, is and is to come, has a plan for me.  For me.  Who am I that the the Creator of the Universe would want me?  That He would desire to have me come into His presence?  Oh, the wonder, the glory of that thought.  I am so in awe that it makes me want to do the best that I can do at whatever He has in store for me.  I want to know what it is that is His plan for me so that I can get to it.  So that I can try my best for the One who made me.  I love the words to Kathryn Scott’s song Creator King:

You who made the mountains and the seas
Measured out the universe and You made me
Echoes of the voice that called the worlds to be
Reach throughout the ages and now speak to me
You’re my creator King

You, Who made the valleys and the skies
Displayed Your love on far horizons and before my eyes
You, Who lit the stars and set the dawn in time
Called them all by name and now You whisper mine
You’re my Creator King

Who am I that You are mindful of me?
Who am I that You set Your love on me?
You’re my Creator King

You, Who made the darkness and the light
Sun and Moon to watch the day and guard the night
The hand that stretched the heavens like a canopy
Reaches down to cover and watch over me
You’re my Creator King

©2003 Vertical Worship Songs (ASCAP) words and music by Mary MacLean

The One who made all that there is has set His love on us that He sent His Son to die for us that we might live.  He set His Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.  (read the book of John)  The One who created the moon and the stars says that He knows each and everyone of us.  Don’t think of it in the plural, He knows and cares for us.  But rather think of it in terms of the singular,  He knows and cares for me.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made by Him.  I have been created in Him to do the good and holy works that He has ordained for me to do before I was even born.  The King wants me.  The King of all kings, who has the throne above every throne, wants me.  He loves me.  I will do anything and everything that He wants me to do because He loves me.  How can I do anything less than love Him with all that I am and give everything that I am to Him?  The King loves me. 

Tubeworms, galatheids & amphipods….oh my!

I was watching BBC’s The Blue Planet episode on The Deep the other night.  And they were talking about the geothermal vents on the ocean floor along the Mid-Oceanic Ridge.  They say there are around 500 different types of life forms living along these thermal vents.  The vents pour out super-heated water from cracks in the ocean floor.  The temperatures can approach 800 degrees Fahrenheit.  At sea level water boils and turns to steam at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.  But at a depth of over 8,000 ft the pressure is so great that this water that normally wouldn’t even be able to be steam at those temperatures is just hot water, no steam involved.  But the more amazing thing is the life that can be found, not only living, but thriving on the chimneys of these vents.  The water is hot enough to remove the flesh from all other animals, but there is a thriving community of animals living along these vents.  It is simply amazing that anything can live there, even bacteria can’t normally stand those temperatures.  But here we have life forms ranging from bacteria up to a breed of octopus.

That got me to thinking.  I have been reading a book on missions by William Carey, the first protestant missionary.  He was trying to get across to the Christians of 1792 that there really is no barrier to us going into all the world and preaching the gospel.  And my odd mind put the two together.  The life that God had placed at these thermal vents is thriving where He placed them.  And He will help you to thrive wherever He places you.  If God has called you to something or to go somewhere for His purpose, then do what He says.  He is faithful and just to provide all that we need.  Abraham called Him Jehovah-Jireh in Genesis chapter 22, which means the God who has foreseen and already provided.  In other words, God has already provided all that you need to not only live where He has called you, but to thrive where He has called you.  Look how these various life forms thrive in one of the most hostile environments on the face of the Earth, and are you not worth much more to Him than a flea-like critter on the ocean floor?  Christ said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)  We are of more value than many amphipods and God has caused them to thrive where He has ordained them to be.  Fear not, He will do the same for you.  Put your whole trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)  Acknowledge Him in all that you do and He will direct your ways.  (Proverbs 3:6)

So if God has called you to something (which I know He has, He has called all of us to something), then remember the tubeworms, octopuses, and amphipods thriving on the thermal vents on the ocean floor at pressure over 400 times that of sea level and temperatures around 800 degrees Fahrenheit.  If He will cause them to thrive, don’t fear, only believe and He will cause you to thrive in what He has called you to do.

Blue Whale vs the Guppy

When I was a kid I won a fishbowl with a bunch of guppies in it.  In case you don’t know what a guppy is, here is a picture of one.  They are a cheap, fast reproducing fish probably a good pet for a 7 year old, which is about how old I was at the time.  From what I remember of my guppies, they don’t seem to have any better attention span than a goldfish.  Guppies are a lot smaller, typically, than goldfish and they bear live young.  They seem to swim in larger schools, at least all of mine stuck together.  I have never been privileged to see them in the wild.  (Actually didn’t know they existed in the wild until a few minutes ago.)  

Now compare them to the Blue Whale.  (I don’t know for sure if this is a Blue Whale, but I always love pictures of whales breaching.)  The Blue Whale is the largest animal to have ever lived on the face of the planet.  Its heart is the size of a family car and some of its blood vessels are so large you could swim through them.  They feed pretty much exclusively on krill, a very small (1-2cm) crustacean.  They sing and can generate 20,000 acoustic watts of sound at 163dB.  Let’s put that in perspective a jet engine at 100 feet away is 140dB and a very loud rock concert at its peak is 150dB.   So whale song, if you were right by the whale is louder than a rock concert.  I guess it needs to be that loud when you are trying to communicate with someone several kilometers away without a phone. 

But that whales and guppies aren’t the point of this post.  Worship is.  What do whales and guppies have to do with worship?  Well for one thing, is our worship of the Creator of all things, on the scale of a Blue Whale, large and loud?  Or is it more on the scale of a guppy, kind of small and quiet?  People at my church comment all the time on how my voice carries in the sanctuary when we are singing.  I always give it all I got.  I refuse not to spend it all on the worship of my God.  I admit that there have been times when my throat has actually hurt a little bit after the singing.  I just love to sing the praises of my God.  And I love to talk about His glory every chance I get.  I could talk your ear off once I get going.  What does your worship cost you?  When God stopped a plague against Israel in 2 Samuel 24, David went to the place where the plague had been stopped and wanted to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.  The owner of the land wanted to give David the land and all his oxen for the sacrifice.  But David replied, “Nay; but I will surely buy it of you at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which does cost me nothing.” (verse 24)  So he bought the land and the oxen that he used to sacrifice to the Lord.  And in Mark 14 we have the account of the woman that brought the alabaster box of ointment and broke the box so that she could anoint Jesus with the ointment in worship of Him.  This ointment could have been sold for over a years wages.  So probably represented her life’s savings.  But she spent it all in her worship of the Lord.  In Luke 21 we have the account of the widow giving two mites into the offering of the temple to worship her Lord.  Christ said that she gave all she had.  She gave all she had in her worship of the Lord.  What are we willing to give in our worship of the Lord?  Usually we won’t even drag ourselves out of bed on a Sunday morning to go worship the Lord.  Or we don’t want to go to an evening service, we could miss our favorite TV show, which is probably something that we shouldn’t even be watching to begin with.  And a special service?  Ah, man, I hate it when they throw something new at us!  That is our typical reaction.  I admit that I am kind of preaching to myself right now.  I have been a bit lazy for awhile in going to church.  I go on Sunday mornings, but that is pretty much it.  I need to get back to going to a cell group, and get back to working with the worship team.  And I should go to the men’s breakfast.  I went once a couple months ago and my church’s men’s breakfast is pretty good.  Better than most that I have been to.  I am going to start doing these things that I haven’t done in awhile.  I am not going to offer worship to the Lord that which costs me nothing anymore.  I want my worship of Him to be on the scale of a whale, not on the scale of a guppy.

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God so loved the world that He gave….

He loves us!  Do you realize how powerful those 3 little words are?  He loves us.  John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  He loves us.  He is the One who spoke everything into being.  Look around you, everything you see He spoke into being.  Even if you live in the city and all you see if man-made buildings, He spoke the base materials, used to make the stuff those buildings are made of, into being.  So there is nothing that you can see that He didn’t speak into being, at least the materials used to make it.  When you look up into the sky, He spoke all the stars and planets and moons into being.  When  you look at the forests and wilderness, He spoke all the trees and animals into being.  When you look into the depths of the oceans, He spoke all the creatures, even the weird looking ones, into being.  He even spoke the very water they live in and the air that we breathe into being.  He is the most powerful person, period.  I was going to say in the entire universe, but He holds the universe in the palm of His hand. 

But He loves us.  He needs nothing.  Psalm 50:12 says, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.”  He doesn’t NEED us for anything.  The glorious thing is that He loves us and desires for us to come into His presence.  Isn’t that completely amazing?  He loves us enough that He allowed His Son to pay the price so that our relationship with Him could be restored.  All we have to do is accept Jesus.  Then we can come into the presence of the Most High King of all creation.  He loves me.  How can you even think about the fact that God loves me without being struck by the awesome power of that statement.  He didn’t have to, He could have gone ahead and wiped out all mankind with the flood, but He spared Noah and his family.  And then He could have left us to die alone, trying desperately to earn what we could never earn.  But instead He gave, and still gives, His love freely to all who will believe.  He loves me.

Say it to yourself.  He loves me.  Don’t say He loves us.  It is too easy for us to try to fade into the background in that statement.  Say to yourself, He love me.  And try to understand and sense the love that He has for you.  He allowed His Son to die for you.  I don’t think that when Christ was on that cross that He was thinking about mankind in general.  Rather I think He was thinking about each and everyone of us individually.  He Loves Me.