He Will Pass Over Us!

Exodus 12:13,23 - Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.

This is far from being anything new (nothing new under the sun!).

The people of Israel were in captivity in Egypt watched as God used Moses and Aaron exact plagues on Pharaoh and Egypt. Plague after plague came upon them but Pharaoh would not let these people go out of the city to worship their God. His heart was hardened.

The last plague was to be administered and God told Moses what he was to say to Pharaoh. This would be the judgment that would finally frustrate Pharaoh. This last plague would have been devastating. All Egyptian families and livestock would be affected. All the firstborn would be killed. This would truly get Pharaoh’s attention and bring much grief.

None of God’s people, Israel, would be affected so long as they did as God instructed Moses to instruct the people. They were to take an unblemished year old male lamb and on a certain day at a certain time they were to kill it and prepare it for a meal. The blood was to be applied to the doorposts and lintel of any home preparing this meal. It was their protection. When God came through the land He would kill any firstborn of a house without the blood at the door. All the people of Israel would be saved.

This is symbolic, a precursor, of what Christ’s blood has done for those who receive Him. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. When we receive Him His blood covers us, spiritually. He was killed that we might live. God will protect us from the destroyer. I think that destroyer can be satan and his lies or those who hate us for our beliefs. If we should die defending our faith, we will be in that truly better place. It will be worth it.

As I say often, this is not a head knowledge of Jesus. This is a heart knowledge, having His Spirit living within us and guiding us.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing but the blood. There’s a scripture that is so powerful and true: Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1Corinthians 10:11-12) There is a reason for the Bible. To reveal God’s glory and judgment, reveal Christ and His saving grace, point us to what is right and true and point us to our salvation in Jesus Christ alone. If we don’t know the Bible, how can we understand this? We must search for ourselves and let God show Himself to each of us personally.

When God has had enough of what’s going on in this world He will bring about judgment. While this example was for Israel and Egypt, it’s also for us and the world today. There are signs listed in the Book. More than the signs, there is scripture after scripture showing us what we need to do to receive Christ, to know Him and be saved by Him. When we search for them and call out to Him for His wisdom, He will show us...and some day when this judgment hits, He will pass over us. It’s so important to know this. He sacrificed His life for us. How can we take this so matter of fact-like? It needs to be taken seriously.

Romans 5:8-10 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Gospel Truth

‬Romans ‭1:16‬ ‭- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

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We all love receiving good news. Who doesn’t? 

That’s what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. For a lot of people, as the Bible says, it is foolishness. I thought it foolishness much of my life. I thought it foolish to believe I needed more of Jesus than what I knew from confirmation classes and Sunday school as a youngster in the Lutheran Church.

Gospel means a good message or good news. That’s what it is! But people believe it’s not for them but the other person. They might think, I’m pretty much honest, I don’t go out of my way to be mean, I’m a giving person, I’m patriotic, I believe in helping people, not like so and so. I, I, I. Our own mind and strength, comparing. Maybe even...if I do these good things, God will see what I have done and approve of me. What did you do better than what Jesus did? 

Everyone needs to be forgiven of their sins and saved. Everyone needs humility. Everyone needs wisdom. Everyone needs to put others before himself. And we are not perfect. Everyone needs Jesus...more than just knowing who He is and believing He did die for our sins. More than that. Not just head knowledge but heart. If our heart’s not in it, it’s useless.

That’s the Gospel truth! The message of truth that Jesus preached. I am going to ask you to listen to Jesus’ words. I’m going to ask you to read through the Gospel of John. If you don’t have a Bible, look it up online. Take it one chapter at a time, more if you like. Ask God to help you fully understand it and ask Him to open your heart to knowing His heart and His Words, both filled with love and rebuke and if/then statements. Really, try this.

I’ve heard the complaint the Bible is only a book of dos and don’ts and this old book isn’t relevant for today’s culture. Baloney! It may seem that way but if one doesn’t know what good is and the consequences of doing bad, how will one learn? God laid a foundation in the Old Testament. There are laws and rituals laid out. We need to know that no man could ever keep those laws and still can’t. But Jesus came, as the Bible says,  

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5:17-18‬)

No one is righteous, not one. But Jesus is. And through Him comes our righteousness. This is not just knowing who He is. He died for all mankind but righteousness only comes when one receives Christ. We take Him seriously in our hearts not minds. We receive Him and He lives in our heart, soul and mind. This is called being born again, a spiritual rebirth. Have you been reborn? Has your mind been renewed? Have you undergone a change of heart and mind? Does the Word of God excite you? It should.

It’s hard to convey the idea that all do not go to heaven. Actually, no one wants to hear this because no one wants to think it possible that a loved one is not there. I have gone through this thinking about my parents and grandparents. I wonder if they ever heard the Gospel before their passing. I know I talked with my dad and the situation is in God’s hands because he had Alzheimer’s. Ears can be stopped up and minds shut off to the truth. And God only speaks truths. Truth is not always palatable. But there’s still time for those who are still living. Including those who might be reading this and not born of the Spirit.  

So, not everyone is in a better place, as is so often spoken by someone at a funeral service. That is a hard word. We hear how giving, kind, compassionate, accomplished, successful they were. Maybe they went to church every week or more. It’s not about their works. Did they talk about Jesus? Did they live for Him? Did they say they were nothing without Him? Is the name of Jesus ever mentioned...apart from using it to cuss or show disdain? Oddly, enough, after I’d written this, set it aside, picked up my Bible, I read this! Psalm 16:2 states: O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my LORD, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” How appropriate. With our heart and soul we call out to our Lord knowing we are not good in and of ourselves. We need Him, as the song goes, every hour. https://youtu.be/slvgJsCbR3w

Some would argue that God is good and wouldn’t keep anyone from eternal life. We are told in the Book of Romans we cannot receive Christ then live any way we wish. We still must obey laws, which have been outline in the Old Testament. We receive Him and become transformed, changed, hopefully to know God’s laws. We think differently and see things with a new, godly, perspective. This is why Christians are so put down at times. Why did I have to change, I’ve been asked. It just comes with having heard the Gospel, the good message or good news of what Jesus did for me/us. 

It’s all about Him, not me, not you, not an entertainer, athlete, politician. If any adoration (idolization) in any man is greater than in God, our priorities are messed up. I know! We can admire others but unless their lifestyle is not full of sex, drugs and rock and roll, I for one will admire from a very great distance. It’s the popularity that comes over them and turns them sour.

In further reading this morning (Exodus) I was reminded again about how it’s all about God. We cannot change ourselves but He can. Only in and through Christ Jesus. Phrases like, you shall see what I will do or I am the LORD, I will bring you out, I will rescue you, I will redeem you. It’s a work of God alone, not of ourselves...lest we boast in our accomplishments, which are of no effect. Our deeds are as filthy rags, He tells us. Only the one deed of Christ was enough. And the only deed of ours is to receive Christ, be born again.

Oh, I can imagine the disagreement here! This is the Gospel truth, according to God. It may seem harsh, but in the end it is a good message. If we give ourselves to God and look to Him, the battles are His. He carries our burdens. In our trials He strengthens us to get us through. And if it’s a struggle where we will not survive, our hope, our end, is secure because of Him. That is the ultimate good news; the good news, good message, I will cling to. All about what He did, does and will do if we put all our trust in Him and believe His hard words. 

1Corinthians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭- For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Hand Outstretched

Matthew 10:29-31 - Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

I spent yesterday with my good friend Sandy. She loves birds and studies them. She’s quite the expert. She’s also an “expert” in Bible scripture...and studies this also. And she is guided by the Holy Spirit of God. It’s always a delight to be with her. 

So as we do when we get together, we have coffee and “perch” ourselves in prominent places at her patio doors watching for the chickadees! She has trained them to eat out of her hand! (I’m going to work on that myself this spring.

Conversation, of course, always veers toward the things of God. It’s just a natural progression. I wish I could take credit for all that I’m going to write but I can’t. That’s okay. Similar things have crossed my mind with different topics and analogies. Some are my own thought. You’ll have to sort out which. Ha ha. 

As we sat at her sliding patio doors watching and waiting for chickadees. I brought up how trusting they are after having trained them to perch on her hand..and visitors’. I added after waiting that long to gain their trust, how could any person possibly even consider doing harm to them? 

Then in Sandy’s fashion, she said it’s like how God treats us. He waits patiently for us to seek and come to Him. Once we’ve gained trust, we find there is nothing to fear about this amazing God. Just like we stood with hands outstretched with nuts and dried mealworms for those chickadees, God does the same, offering us the bread of life! And I’ll tell you, when that bread is received, it is so filled with life...the bread that sustains...the bread of life come from heaven to earth, from Spirit to spirit. HALLELUJAH!

I know the conversation went further. But this is the point I want to make:
We need not fear God. He loves us all too much. His desire for us is to acknowledge Him, trust in Him and also become acquainted with Him through His Word. Jesus is the bread of life. He only wants good for us. Now the good is probably not what we would consider. His good is greater! It comes with greater rewards. It comes with excellent eternal consequences...life. 

The world’s view of good is what the world places the highest reward on right now. It says we are good people on our own merits. Success, wealth, fame, things, sports, entertainment. I’m not saying any of this is bad, but it’s how important these are in our lives. Does God come first?

Just as God’s most important thought is toward us, the most important thing should be our relationship with and thought about God. Plain and very simple. Jesus says this: ...whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
These verses come right after the opening scriptures. He values us. He values our life and our relationship toward Him. Can we honestly say we are not ashamed of Him? Do people know where we stand with Him? Do people act differently around us? I sure hope so. If someone wants to talk about the Lord, bring it on.

One more thing. I just thought about the prodigal son who left his father and went to live his own, useless life. When he was about as low in life as he could be he chose, in total humility, to return 
home to see if his father would forgive him and take him back. His father had never stop watching for his return. See what scripture has to say next: 
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luke 15:20) THIS is our Father’s heart for us. Always willing to receive us, whether it be from a long stretch of time away or even just a time of busyness in a day...or from a time in a wilderness; when one returns one’s trust returns and one looks back and realizes the Lord had never left...that His hand had remained outstretched! 

He guides us to Himself by the power of His Spirit. If we heed His call and turn to Him and Him alone and trust in Him, He will be our God, our Father in Heaven. He cares for us more than sparrows. His hand is always outstretched for us.

Psalm 136:1,12,23,25 - Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endures forever... Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever... Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever.

The Sweetness of It All

Psalm 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

I awoke one night right after I had fallen asleep, very late. We had had a wonderful church service that morning, filled with truth, hard words…and love. I couldn't shake the freedom I felt. Bury Your Father (Pastor Terry Fischer) was the sermon title. I’ve listened to it twice since then!

We were all encouraged by the hard words spoken in love. Paraphrasing Pastor, If we have lost the zeal we once had, just come to the Lord at the altar and seek Him. He will restore what was lost. He will take you back to the day when you had this enthusiasm. I admit I’d lost some zeal and it’s been difficult getting back. I had been talking to the Lord and felt He was not listening.

Paraphrasing some more, sometimes God will test us to see what we are made of. I took away this: If we don’t sense His presence, don’t lose hope. As with Joseph who was sold into Egyptian slavery by his own brothers, God orchestrated it all. (Joseph didn't deserve it.) He endured hardship under Pharoah’s hand. But an incident brought him out of that hardship and into the courts of Pharaoh! Joseph became second in command. And when a famine occurred elsewhere, Joseph's home land, his brothers unknowingly came to Egypt for help, not realizing it would be their own brother who would help them. After a time, Joseph revealed who he was and forgave them telling them that what they meant for evil so many years before, God turned into good, to save many lives, theirs included. We might have gone, or are going, through a trial. If we persevere, what might have been meant for evil (or discouragement) can be turned into good. We can come out better than when we went in.

Burying your father...Joseph's father had not seen Joseph in many years and presumed he was dead. Joseph's brothers never told their father the truth about what they had done. In time, now that Jacob, the father, was content in his old years and knowing Joseph was alive, he was old and ready to die. They buried their father...and Jacob moved on with life. The brothers, however, could not. They still feared retribution from Joseph, which was not to be. We are not to live in the past. If we are troubled by anything, sometimes that trouble can bring us to a low place. We may not even be aware what caused it. That’s where God can do the best work, where the valley can become the mountaintop.

Oh, but the promises in the Word of God are so good for those who pursue them. Without those words, without His Word, there can be great discontentment for those who have met the living God, sought Him and stayed in His Word to gain His wisdom and then "lost it" somehow. Those who have not known God don’t experience this. It’s a “life is good in my little world" attitude. People, life is so much better when God is the center, when His wisdom exceeds the wisdom of men, when His Spirit guides, when God speaks to you (through His Word and His Spirit to yours).

Taste and see that the Lord is good is a favorite scripture. Once you’ve tasted and lose that even for a moment, you can feel lost. I decided to look up scriptures relating to tasting and seeing. I hope you take the time to read. Salvation is the first step to being able to taste and see. It’s when His Spirit lives inside you and when wisdom comes upon you that you can taste and see. It is glorious.

Taste and see that the Lord is good! He only desires that you receive that goodness He offers. Only He can give it. No earthly man, no church, no priest nor pastor nor rabbi. Only Jesus.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah‬ ‭15:16‬)
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm‬ ‭119:103‬)
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1Peter 2:1-3)
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes...More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:8,10‬)

What Are You Falling For?

Isaiah‬ ‭14:12-13‬ ‭- “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north."

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I heard the question above and it stirred up thoughts!

We think ourselves more highly than we ought. We think we can do a better job with our lives than God can. Guess again! Look what it did for the devil above.

We know we have an enemy of our souls, the devil, satan, Lucifer, Beezelbub...whatever name you want to call him. His job is to steal, kill and destroy mankind. (The opposite of God who wishes none to perish.) He preys upon us all. How? By lying to us. He will make us believe what is good is evil and what is evil is good. In the world we have very relaxed views on so many issues: marriage and divorce, sexuality, meaning of life (abortion, murder), human rights, government, politics...oh, and offending. 

Not too much of it is looked at from God's point of view anymore. I didn't look at it that way once either. It was my life and I was going to live it any way I wanted. It didn't affect anyone else, did it? Whatever made me happy. And, sadly, in the world it continues. But as frustrating as it is, I now know that this is the way the Bible tells us it will be...then Jesus will return to exact judgment. Just when you think this is the worst the world can get, it gets worse. I noticed that on the news this week.

As a friend emailed me one day...I seem to be at peace with my religion and I seem to take pleasure in it. Well, yes, I do! That can only come from God. Except it's not about my religion; it's about Who I know. It's about my relationship with Jesus. He brings that peace and pleasure. Yes! 

So, back to Lucifer! He became very proud in his status as an angel. He thought so highly of himself, he thought he could be like God, maybe even better. And God had a decision to make...kick him out of heaven. Pride caused Lucifer to fall. 

What are you falling for? The thought raced through my mind, like Lucifer fell from God's graces, so can any person whose pride in believing they can go through life, living their own way, without any regard for God. This is one of satan's lies. Are you falling for it? Shrugging one's shoulders at or thinking it's they way the culture is changing regarding to major issues today is compromising with the devil.

Those who stand with God and His Word and abide in Him will always be questioned. Some will go so far as to scorn. It's to be expected as a follower of Christ. 

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2Timothy‬ ‭3:12‬). But...The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. (‭‭Psalm 34:18‬)

What are you falling for? I fell for the lies for more than half my life. When the truth was shown to me I took a stand for Christ. I am not ashamed of the Gospel! It is by this Gospel that my life was saved, glory to God alone. I was not trying to prove anything to God. In fact, I was opposed to Him. I believed in God and Jesus. I just saw no need for Him in my life; I was doing okay. Or so I thought. One day, at my wit's end, God revealed Himself to me and that was it. I knew I needed Him. And He knew it also and changed my heart in an instant. 

What makes my heart ache is those who feel as I felt. I think about how some day, if they continue to avoid Christ, the truth will be revealed and they will regret having done so. What comes to mind is the story of Lazarus, a beggar, and the rich man. In a nutshell, both had died; Lazarus, the beggar, went to heaven; the rich man to hell. The rich man saw Lazarus in a good place and realized his mistake and pleaded that Lazarus be allowed to tell his family to not make the same mistake, which could not (and cannot) be done. Think about it. Lazarus was about as low as one could get; humbled by his lifestyle, believing in God. The rich man had everything, no doubt with some pride, with no need for God, yet those riches meant nothing at death. 

It's never too late to receive Christ nor is it too late to question God about the validity of it all. If one seeks, with all his heart, God will respond. Don't fall for the lies that a relationship with the God of heaven is not possible. I'll tell you, I had done many sinful things and probably hit every one of the Ten Commandments, yet God reached me. He had placed people in my life to help, though I wasn't very happy about their insistance at the time. God's timing was perfect. Whatever pride I might have had in my determination to live without God, fell. 

Are you falling for the lies of the devil or falling before the feet of Jesus? Falling for the lies is pride; falling before the feet of Jesus is about as humble as one can get.

Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‭- "For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

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The LORD Shut Him In

The last blog was about Noah whom God chose to build an ark to save anyone willing to enter into trusting God. 

Short and sweet, here we see what happens when we do this. 

First He calls, via His Spirit, His Word, through others. Perhaps we seek Him on our own. We enter in to that relationship with God/Jesus. He shuts us in. We are protected by Him. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands... ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭49:16) We are now His treasured possessions, ever in His sight. 

Have you heard? Have you been asked to enter in? To trust in Jesus? Have you been shut in by the Lord...protected by His salvation? Do you believe? 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  (Revelation‬ ‭3:20-21‬) 

Then the LORD said to Noah, "COME INTO THE ARK, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." (Genesis 7:1)

So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD SHUT HIM IN. ‭(Genesis‬ ‭7:16)

Those who were shut in the ark were saved from the devastation of the flood.

Today, this is what Christ does for those who choose to enter into relationship with Him. He is that Door! We are saved from the world of sin around us. Eyes opened to truth. Promises of eternal life. Hallelujah! 

Just Like in Noah's Day

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." 

We are familiar with the story of Noah and the ark. We have known it since childhood. But how many believe it? Was it just a story? I believe it because the Bible "told me so." I also believe that history repeats itself...nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

If you remember the Noah story, you know that the reason for the ark was to save the lives of Noah, his family and anyone else who wished to be saved from a flood that was to occur. Of course, no flood had ever happened before, so Noah pretty much had to have faith in God alone and in that which was not seen. (Hebrews 11) So we are to believe also.

The world had turned corrupt (Genesis 6:11) Man had turned wicked and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil. God was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). So He decided to destroy all living things, except those that would enter into the ark He asked Noah to build. He chose Noah because of his righteousness, his trust and devotion to God.

If history repeats itself, could it be this might happen again? I so totally believe this because I've read the Bible and I know how the end of the story will take place! God may not ask another earthly man to build yet another, greater ark, but I know a Man who became the ark. His name is Jesus.

After the flood, life began again...and again it became corrupt and evil, as evidenced throughout His Word. This time God sent His only Son to be born to become that ark in which all mankind would be allowed to enter into, into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Enter into Christ and be saved. Repent, admit your sin and weaknesses and enter into a life of righteousness, like Noah, and no longer have fear of what the evil in this world dishes out. 

Trust in the one true God. Commit your ways to Him. Share the Gospel and do it without being ashamed. Let your light shine in the world. Listen for the prompting of His Holy Spirit. This is all available for anyone who is willing to submit to the Lord. Our religion can't save us. Our goodness can't save us. But Jesus can. He is the Way, Truth and Life (the Door...to the ark). No one goes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I know this hard for some to believe. But read Genesis 6 and 7 for yourself. It's an easy read! See what happened to the people who did not choose to enter into the ark. Jesus saves! Enter in. If you've balked all your life, it's not too late. He will not reject a heart willing to seek Him now. Just as Noah walked with God, so can we all...through Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! Do you trust God and believe with all your heart? This is for you:

Romans‬ ‭10:8-11‬ ‭- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

New Year, New Day, New Life

2Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

New years tend to bring resolutions. Everyone's idea what a good resolution might be will be different. I guess resolutions are okay. There is one that is the best! Later....

It's a new year and a new start at the beginning of the Bible. We know the accounts of Genesis 1. All of creation, newness of life. As I was reading I noticed something I'd not thought about before. God made man in His own image, male and female He made them. It made me pause to think that later it was said that Adam saw that all the animals had mates but he did not. I looked up a commentary on this. 

Though there is a time when God is explaining to Adam that he would tend all living things, Eve was not there. It never clicked that all living beings were created on the same day. It just never clicked that it wasn't days after that Eve was created. As the commentary also suggested...that only one male and one female were created, to show that hereafter a man was to have at a time no more wives than one... And...The Jews give these reasons why man was made on the evening of the sabbath, to show that he did not assist in the work of creation; and that if he was elated in his mind, it might be told him that a fly was created before him... Duh, yah! 

I say all that because it was glorious as it was originally done, in God's eyes it was good. Didn't take long to corrupt...so that throughout the rest of the Bible we are shown our sinful natures, God's redemptive plan, His love, judgment and mercy...so much so that He made a way that we in our sinful natures, received at birth, might be made new, through a new covenant, through His Son Jesus. 

In Chapter 2 it points out that God, the LORD God, had made, made, formed, breathed, planted, took, commanded, said, caused all things. Remember that. It's all about God. 

In Chapter 3 we already see how sin entered the world so quickly after God's glorious creation. All that new life in a short period of time corrupted. All God's perfection. Man's determination to be like God through the temptation of a snake! Which temptations are still going strong today. In our self-centeredness, pride, stubbornness and sinful natures. 

So back to new life which is attainable...only through God's power. 

• We cannot suggest that we are better than someone else. (Remember, He created a fly before creating you!) 
• We cannot think that if we try on our own to be a better person, He will accept us. 
• We cannot compare ourselves to someone else, whether they be better or worse. 
• We are all on the same level. 

But we can attain a new life comes when we enter in to relationship, as the Bible suggests, with Christ, the Lord. 

We just celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It shouldn't have just been about gifts and food and fun, just another holiday away from work. We celebrated the birth of our Savior, the one who was born to live to die that we might, if we receive Him into our lives, have eternal life. 

There will be a day when all God's perfection will return. And some will be able to enjoy it. Not all, just some. Imagine for yourself, if you do not know this God, a new life in Christ this new year. Today, even. Make this your resolution, to know Him. This new world that will come, God's perfection can be our eternal resting place. This world is not our home. Seek Him and He will be found. Call on His name. Believe. Trust He will come and change you. If you truly want this new life, He will hear your call. 

John‬ ‭17:1-3‬ ‭- Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”