And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of day, . . .1 Have you ever imagined yourself in the presence of God? Relaxed, enjoying the cool of day. How awesome is that experience!
Recently, we joined a friend celebrate her birthday. Representation from both her family and church family were there. It’s been some time since I’ve entered loud places. Yet the company is what counted.
Likewise, picture Jesus Christ among his disciples breaking bread for the Passover.2 It was an intimate gathering with his 12 disciples. What qualified them to be his guests? Why them?
Think about it. In God’s eyes the ‘good man’ and the ‘evil man’ are both dead men. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God3 and are justified only by grace as a gift.4 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.5 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.6 Piercing words. Yet he says, blessed is the one who is not offended by me.7
We are described as corrupt as we have geared away from our purpose; we were created to have an intimate relationship with God. He made us to love and be loved, because God is love.8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.10 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”11
One of the scribes wanted to test Jesus by asking him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The Second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”12
Religion is about performing and gaining credit; Christianity is about believing and receiving. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.13
Notes:
1. Genesis 3:8
2. Matthew 26:17-29
3. Romans 3:22b-23
4. Romans 3:24
5. Psalm 14:2-3
6. Psalm 53:3
7. Luke 7:23
8. 1 John 4:16c
9. Romans 5:8
10. Psalm 103:11-12
11. Isaiah 1:18-20
12. Mark 12:28-31
13. 1 John 5:13-15
