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Allow me to abridge the version of creation. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.¹ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . .” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;² (And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, . . . And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.³ The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, . . .⁴ Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”⁵ So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman, and brought her to the man.⁶) male and female he created them. And God blessed them. . . .⁷

In the construction industry, it may be frustrating to deal with workers who lack skill and character. There will always be that tension between excellence and the lack of it. When does one let go without having to compromise? Contrast to a worker who has had experience, and exhibits competence, confidence, and calm. We had the opportunity to invite a skilled laborer. During lunch he revealed that he had worked in Saudi Arabia for 25 years and 10 years in Dubai. He is thankful that he had to leave for Saudi as it was where he surrendered to God. And has since equipped himself with the Word and remained in fellowship. Thus, explains the gentleness and calm.

In the garden, God was present. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, . . .⁸ Yet, due to the fall, God had to separate man from his presence. Despite of our hardness of heart, God has been gracious and faithful reaching out for man—beginning with a select race, and a chosen few. To the Jews, God says, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you . . .”⁹ But God led the people around by the wilderness . . . And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, . . . and by night in a pillar of fire. . .¹⁰ He gave instructions for righteous living.¹¹ For no unrighteous being may come before a holy God.¹² God appointed Moses as a representative who would stand in the gap for their shortcomings¹³—and priests to atone for their sins¹⁴ for he desires that the Jews enter his rest. He allowed man to create a sanctuary where God’s glory would show—ark of the covenant,¹⁵ the tabernacle,¹⁶ the temple.¹⁷ God appointed a place of worship as his habitation.¹⁸

The Old Covenant practice of worship continued until a New Covenant was declared—in the fullness of time that Jesus is revealed.¹⁹ Having finished his mission²⁰ while he hang on the cross, Jesus surrendered his life; and the curtain in the temple tore from top to bottom.²¹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.²²               

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”²³