Where are you?

The most amazing aspect of our text in Genesis 3:8-9, is the voice of the Almighty God calling out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" Here we are given a portrait of the heart of God for sinners. It was God who was seeking out Adam, calling out to him. And this act of mercy on the part of God is the most compelling reason why God is worthy to be loved and worshipped.

God has all the reasons to reject us and judge and condemn us and yet despite our disobedience and rebellion, like a father, he is calling us to come back to himself. 2 Peter 3:9 puts it this way, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." This call of God, "where are you", is like an open door, an invitation by God to find mercy and grace, when we come to him.

"Where are you?" is the first word of grace that came from God when Adam disobeyed and fell in the Garden. When Jesus said, 'the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost', he was doing just what God did initially in the Garden, calling humanity to himself... "where are you... stop hide from me... come back to me." May these words help us to remember that we are serving a most gracious and loving God!

Posted by Pastor James

the first necessary step to salvation

"then the eyes of both of them were opened".

today's passage comments that adam and eve's eyes were opened to their guilt the moment they sinned against God. mr. stott puts it this way: "they now saw with clarity the folly and wickedness of their rebellion against God".

as terrible as that moment must have been for adam and eve, how much better to feel guilt and "the folly and wickedness of our rebellion against God" than to have such a hardened heart as to feel nothing at all!

it is the first necessary step to our salvation.

all our lives, even as we acknowledge in some general way that we are sinners, we make endless excuses and rationalizations for our sinful behavior,

but it is truly a horrific moment the very first time our "eyes are really opened" and we see with clarity the extent of our "folly and wickedness of our rebellion against God."

guilt, shame, remorse, failure, fear, terror are inadequate terms to describe the person who for the first time realizes in a personal way their sinfulness before the living God.

that moment is as terrible for us as it surely must have been for adam and eve. like them, all we want to do is to hide, to forget, to run as far away from His presence as we can.

but it is only when we realize the extent of our sinfulness that we are driven to Jesus Christ, to plead with Him for mercy, grace, forgiveness.

i fear that too many times these days, when we sin against God, we feel nothing at all, ingenious as we are in rationalizing our behavior and shifting blame to others.

having "our eyes opened" is an unpleasant and wretching experience, but how necessary if we are ever to come to the Lord and receive His salvation! would we come to Him otherwise?

if you sin against the Lord and feel nothing, pray for "eyes to be opened", a tender conscience and a broken heart.

as terrible as it is, it is a gift, a mercy of God, this ability to feel.

Denying God's "Otherness"

This age old trick that the devil uses to tempt man to be "Like God" originates all the way back to the Garden. It is scary how this "lie' has manifested itself through the ages and today we find ourselves right there facing the same lie and refusing to acknowledge the 'otherness' of God... as Stott puts it.

Today's new age message like books from Eckhart Tolle, connecting with you inner 'spirit' and all of the other things that are blasted on television and fill the shelves at Borders or Barnes may look like a harmless, self-help messages...a message of self cultivation but it is really the same "lie" told by the serpent in the garden and man falls for it again and again.

Even as I profess to be a Christian, I am constantly having to guard my very proud, weak and sinful heart because I can easily find myself immersed or begin to turn an ear to these messages out there that are masked so well...and then the mind begins to think... and that can lead to scary things. Makes me so thankful for the GRACE of salvation.

Man as Male and Female

"The Lord God Said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" [or "as his partner" Genesis 2:18

Hello all,

I've thought about this a bit today after reading today's study. I was trying to see what creative things I could share here but I came to a conclusion that it might actually cause more issues. Therefore, I'll just share that... I thank God almost every day for my wife Kwi Jung Grace Ryu. Definetely, my life will not be complete without her so I'm very grateful for God's blessings in our marriage.

True Freedom

It's interesting how freedom and obedience is so closely related in Stott's entry on "True Freedom". It seems that obedience to God is synonymous to freedom. We often think that to be obedient to a person or a set of rules puts you under submission to him/her or it. It contradicts the idea of freedom but I think when we change our perspective to see God's law not just as a set of rules but as truths to live by, it is easier to see how obeying God's law gives us true freedom and rest.
I think that whether we realize it or not, we are bound by certain laws and rules that overshadow all parts of our lives. The laws of gravity is one example. You may not choose to abide by it and jump off a cliff but there will be a consequence. Even if you decide to to create a device that can help you defy gravity, that law still stands. It does not mean you are imprisoned by it, you can live with it, build your life around it.
God created this world and all the things it holds according to His own ways/laws/rules-whatever you want to call it. As the Master builder, He knows best how we can best live.

Unfortunately, humanity is marred by disobedience to God and we are still living with the consequences. We are bound by the laws of sin. Yet, in His love and mercy, God has made a way for us to defy sin's reign over us. Jesus calls us to take His yoke, and He promises us that He will give rest for our souls. Isaiah 57:20 says that we are like the tossing sea, casting up mire and mud. Without Christ, we are restless like the tossing sea, and there is so much "mire and mud" we cast up from our sinful hearts. Who can break the laws of the sea and make it stop tossing? Is it not Jesus Christ? Who can break the laws of sin and give rest to our souls? Again, the answer is Christ- if only you would choose to heed His call.

Caring for Creation

I remember once heard on the radio station saying that over population humanity is destroying the earth. I’m not really sure how over populated we are, but I believe that we are living healthier than before with today technology and we are using greater sources from this earth than before. And with limited sources we have in this earth, someday we are going to run out of our very sources. I think somewhat it’s happening already, rising gas price, Glover food shortage and critical weather changes from unbalanced ecosystem.

Living in North America, rising gas price is most concern for me than other things. Because there is still plenty of food to go around and weather is not too bad with well built house. Through The Bible explains that what God has given us is a delegated and responsible stewardship towards to his gift. As a person who has more access and control over goods, we need to take part of our responsibility, rather than pointing false towards to God’s greatest gift humanity.

Collaborating with God

Sorry for blogging so late.
It is so true that all of us drag to go to work or school after 2 days of resting. I remember when I was little, I hated Monday. Once a while I pretended I was sick so I could stay home. Rarely my plans were successful but also I had to pay the consequences of lying to my parents.
As I was reading the reflection today, the last paragraph that Stott wrote stood out for me. He said," our work becomes a privilege when we see it as collaboration with God." It is a great honor to be part of God's team. It is like far more privileged than appointed by US president. One thing I want to add to Stott's comment is that We are privileged and honor to be used by God by knowing us who we are in relation to Who God is. God can do everything alone. Remember God created this universe without even moving His finger. We will never fathom the magnitude of who God is therefore we are overwhelmed by the fact that He wants to share His work with us. Moreover in God's eyes there is no insignificant work as long as our hearts are right with Him and we do for the glory of God. Just to share what happen today related to our devotion today. Caleb started school last week and Jacob will start his preschool after the labor day. Before when they both attended school same days and same times, I enjoyed couple hours of ME time twice of week. Now because they attend different schools, ME time is pretty much gone. I have been in complaining mood and tired from taking care of them. Anyways, I took the kids to the play ground for late afternoon after playing a baseball with Jacob for over an hour. As I was pushing swings that Caleb and Jacob were on, I lifted up a little prayer for the boys and asked God's strength. God graciously filled me with inconceivable joy at the moment. It is truly God that granted Il and me with the wonderful gift and invited us to share in His work by raising them to be a man and a woman of faith.
I am looking forward to spending time with children because I am partnering up with God to raise Nina, Caleb, and Jacob to be the followers of Jesus Christ.