When God created man He did not write sin into His story. God being all knowing however, He still wrote into His plan for mankind- the gift of free will. He would let them choose their path, and then because of His unsurpassing love, ask only one thing in return- Obedience.
As a parent, I can relate to this love in God’s parenting through obedience. I believe that many people have a negative perception of God in this. He is often viewed of being a condemning God who loves to tell us what not to do and then strike us down when we choose one of the forbidden things on the list. When I became a mom, I finally understood the Father’s love in the form of His desire for obedience from His children. I don’t tell my children not to run into the street because I want to keep them from fun, or discipline them for hurting one another because I enjoy seeing them suffer. Every single life lesson….seemingly endless as they are!…is for my children’s own good. It is my job as a parent, to protect and teach my kids how to behave in a manner that will keep them safe and allow them to have the best life possible. It is out of my wholehearted love for them that I expect this obedience, because it is only within these boundaries that I know they are kept safe.
This same request for obedience comes from our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve were given free will, they chose to take the one fruit from the garden that God had told them not to. It was the consequence of this disobedience that the historical death by sin to all humans occurred. Because of Adam (and Eve’s) sin, we were all born into this same struggle to obey God.
Despite our shortcomings, His incomprehensible love gave us a second chance at eternity with Him. Our Heavenly Father wrote into His story another man-who would provide a way to erase this death through sin and become life to all. Jesus. This is the amazing grace of our Maker. To sacrifice His only son, and bring us back to Him.
Disobedience of 1 man= death to all
Obedience of 1 man= life to all
It is at the Cross that this transformation from sin to life is birthed. The most beautiful transformation of human life given to us as a free gift from the Father himself. Forgiveness. Chris Tomlin wrote a song about the illustration of the transformation at the Cross of Jesus Christ. We must first surrender in obedience to our Lord when we make the decision to approach the Cross. And it is in this beautiful surrender that we are given His free gift of forgiveness, as He washes us clean and gives us new life. “Where His love runs red, and our sins washed white…” (Chris Tomlin)
I too, am in awe of Him!
With love- April
Romans 5:18-21
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.