Awaken The Sleeper!

The entire narrative of the Bible is a story of separation, redemption and final resolution.  To better understand the nature of this separation, let’s take a quick look at what was lost.  The first two chapters of Genesis describes man as being created by God, in His own image, for relationship with Him.  Originally, we reflected His character and had complete harmony with all nature and all animals.  As God walked in the Garden of Eden “in the cool of the day”, mankind had no fear or shame.  Instead, man enjoyed an open, transparent and trusting relationship with his Creator.  Humanity had life and it was good.

The separation begins in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit.  Before this, God warned Adam, “'but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:17   While Adam and Eve did not die physically that day, they did die spiritually.   When they heard God walking in the garden, they hid themselves.  In response to God’s call, Adam replied “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10   Fear had now replaced intimacy.

In response to Adam and Eve’s rebellion, God banished them from the garden, placing “cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24   Now, the separation is complete.   Death, both physical and spiritual, has entered the world and mankind is barred from the immediate presence of God. Worse than the physical separation and death in this world is the spiritual isolation and just sentence of an eternity forever separated from God – a sentence that will be shared with the false prophet, the anti-Christ and Satan.  These are among the consequences of sin.

All humanity has inherited this sinful nature, with its consequences. Psalm 14:2-3 notes “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”  Sin cuts off communication and relationship with God because it is fundamentally incompatible with God’s holiness.   Isaiah 59:2 describes it as “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

Herein lies the dilemma:  God’s love desires relationship with His created ones, yet His holiness demands He must punish sin and remain separate from evil.  If left unaddressed, separation from God in this life leads to eternal separation – the second death.  “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27   Death becomes the ultimate terror.  Hebrews 2:14-15 notes that the devil “holds the power of death” and keeps people “held in slavery by their fear of death.”

Yet that same passage in Hebrews speaks to God’s solution through the Cross of Christ.  Read in its entirety: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”   The crucifixion is God’s solution, satisfying holiness and justice with love, mercy and grace.  Colossians 1:19-22 describes Christ’s redemption: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”

When Christ spoke, “It is finished”, as He gave up his spirit on the cross, the “curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”  The curtain, separating the Holy of Holies in the temple, symbolized the separation between God and sinful man.  Its tearing signified the barrier has been removed.  Jesus Christ, rightfully proclaimed the Lamb of God, opened the way to God for all who come through Christ. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, … Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

This redemption is available to all who believe in Christ, through faith, and not by works, that no one may boast.  The redemption by faith is clear.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”    John 3:16,18

For believers, the separation has ended.  “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:16   With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are being sanctified – transformed into the image of Christ. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” This transformation is an ongoing daily experience of sin recognition, true repentance and continual reconciliation with the Father through Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21 and 22 describes the ultimate end of separation.  “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”  Revelation 21:3   This restoration is permanent and complete.  The “new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” foretells God and mankind dwelling together once again.  God’s original design will be fulfilled.

The question you face – the question every person faces – is whether you will accept the reconciliation offered in Christ or whether you will reject Jesus.  The separation barrier has been removed along with the flaming sword guarding the way to eternal life.  The question is whether you will cross over into eternal life through Christ – or remain in self-imposed exile from the One for whom you were made.   

Your eternal destiny is your choice!   Choose well. 

Surrender today!

Someone’s eternity depends on it!

Awaken the sleeper!