God is My Strength

God created man in his own image. By this, we understand that man was really similar to God—without sin, blameless, unblemished, and clean. What more could one want? Being the greatest creation of God, given dominion over the earth, and most importantly, given the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). The difference between all the animals in the world and us is the breath of life. This is a piece of God in us. We are the only creation that was given free will—an ability to choose to listen or not to listen to God.

I can just imagine Adam with God speaking directly. God talking and teaching Adam the ways of agriculture. God watching and listening to Adam name all the animals and plants that existed. I can imagine God walking with Adam, holding him by the hand like a parent would walk with a little child-joyfully walking around, learning, exploring, and probably asking billions of questions. Children are one great blessing from God. They show a hint of the purity of life that God designed.

The first two human beings had only one rule: Dont eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or else you will surely die. (Genesis 2:17)

Seems easy for us because we know the consequences of what happened. But Adam and Eve-two little children at mind, not having experience or wisdom. They were decieved by the serpent.

The serpent didnt force them into eating the fruit; instead he questioned the two people. “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1) He first asked a question to plant a seed of doubt in them. Then he stated complete lie, saying “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5.

The fruit looked good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and the tree desirable to make one wise. The woman ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband. With their eyes "opened," they were instantly filled with guilt and shame. They made themselves clothing out of leafs and hid from Gods presence when He came looking for them.

The same tactics that satan used against Adam and Eve he uses against us. Satan comes and uses doubt and confusion to destabilize us, he brings a drug, a explicit image, a vape, a game, he has so many different options to choose from like at a worldwide buffet. He has a vice for every single person. Its something that brings immediate pleasure. He lies to us telling us that its only one time or its not even that bad. Its just a game you can stop at any time, he lies you listen and you soon come to find yourself in bondage. You find that 5, 10, 20 years of your life are gone and you did nothing. Its gone, wasted, never to come back again.

The Consequences

A relationship broken.

Because of their disobedience, they separated themselves from God. One of the great results of sin is loneliness. They no longer enjoyed the close companionship with God. Sin caused a separation. It filled them with shame, guilt, and fear. God searched for them and found them, He questioned both Adam and Eve, but not the serpent. The serpent He cursed instantly. Then He told the woman that child bearing would be painful, the man that labor would be difficult, and the snake that the children of the woman would step on his head and that he would drag himself across the ground.

Every single person on earth has sinned, many live lives of continuous disobedience not knowing that they are separated from God. Have you been living a life separated from God? Living and allowing yourself to indulge in sin? Have you separated yourself from God? God wants you, even though you sinned He still wants to be your father. He searched and found Adam and Eve, in the same way He looks for us. All we have to do is answer.

The Need for a Savior

God didnt leave Adam and Eve hopeless. The first sacrifice was made by God-He made tunics of skin and clothed them. The first sacrifice made by God to hide the nakedness of man-a sacrifice that ultimately shows what Christ later did for us.

Every person is born in sin, like the psalmist says "in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5) Now we can look at our life and think nah im preety good. I dont commit any big sins. Ive never killed anybody or stolen any money. I am a good person. But what if we were to be judged Biblicaly? Jesus said if we even hate our brother that is like murder. If we break one commandment, we are guilty of all. Jesus told us to love even our enemy. He said that if we even think lustfully after a woman we have already commited adultery in our hearts. Jealosy, malice, greed all of these are sins. We are all found guilty by the criteria that God set before us.

Satan comes to us daily-questioning us, lying to us, and trying to decieve us. Only two on this entire earth will ever give us anything for free. Our parents take care of us. And God gives salvation for free. But anything that satan has to offer, for us comes at a price. The temporary pleasure of sin must be paid for. The wages of sin are death. The day Adam and Eve sinned they got kicked out of Eden. The day they listened to satan something within them surely died.

Have you been decieved your whole life? Has satan told you you can be fine without God-that all you need is financial security from birth to the grave and you will be fine?

The need for Christ and eternal security

What about eternal security? This life is as short as 70 years. We want food daily, comfort, fun, a healthy body, and nice house. But what about eternity? We are separated from God by sin, the world is dead in sin. But God gave the ultimate sacrifice; Christ on the cross. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

Just as God clothed man with animal skin, He has given us the opprotunity to be clothed in His garments of Salvation (Isaiah 61:10). You can be clothed in these same clothes today.

God is still in the business of saving. While you are still alive, you can recieve the garments of Salvation. All you have to do is dedicate your life to Christ. It is a matter of life and death to make a choice. You have to make a choice today! Either you choose to listen and give your life to God or you choose to refuse. Even the act of not choosing is a choice. You may never have another chance.

A short Prayer

If you want to have God in your life; Pray it simply. Say Lord I want to give you my life. I want to give you my heart. I dont have anything else to give. I am broken, decieved, alone, and separated from You. Ask for God to make Himself real in your life. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

If you will fully commit your heart to Christ and turn away from the sin in your life-be it drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, or just a life separate from God-He will change you. There are so many things you will lose; depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness, fear, shame, you will lose so many more things. In turn you will gain salvation, an assurance of tomorrow, peace, joy in Christ, and most of all You will regain a real relationship with God