Sermon Title: God’s Original Purpose for Mankind
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
It is of utmost importance that we recognise that God’s original design and destiny for Mankind is flawless and perfect in every way.
How do we know that?
Adam and his wife were simply perfect in God’s sight; and they lived up to the standard of His glory. (Ref: Genesis 2:25 and Romans 3:23)
Just as Creation is, the human state was perfect.
They were sinless.
They were naked, and yet had nothing to hide.
Adam and his wife were both perfect; because they lived as God had originally designed and destined for them.
So what is God’s original design, purpose, and destiny for Mankind?
You may be wondering that very same question.
You may be seeking greater clarity for your life; or a new direction in your life; or you may currently be plodding through life, eager to regain a passion to live once again.
Open your heart fully to the work of the Holy Spirit this day; and embrace God’s original design, destiny and purposes for you.
God’s Perfect Destiny For Mankind – Blessed, Eternal Life In His Rest
“ Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:1-3)
God’s destiny for us is to be holy as we live in His Rest; devoting our lives to His Will, and trusting completely in His Providence - as testified by the ageless work of His life-giving Creation.
We are truly blessed when we strive to be truly holy.
To be holy is to surrender our lives to God in absolute faithfulness and complete trust – receiving His Salvation in Christ, and living out His Way, Truth and Live.
We live in God’s Rest when we trust Him in every way.
Every aspect of our lives must be lived from God’s Place of Rest.
While the world rests from work, God’s pattern for His Children is to work from His place of rest – for He has already supplied all our needs.
God – Alone – Gives Life
“4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.
7 Then the Lord God formed a man[Heb: Adam]
from the dust of the ground [Heb: Adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:4-7)
The earth was being watered for the abundant plant life that has yet to be created; even as “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground...”
Every single human being is personally, intimately and intricately created by God.
The Psalmist David sings:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
You are precious in God’s sight because He created you.
You came into being only because God intentionally and lovingly created you.
There’s more.
Every human being was not only created by God, we were each given His breath (Hebrew: Ruach, which also alludes to His Spirit) – and became a living being.
This sacred passage contains some deeply significant facts about Man’s creation.
God - alone - created Man.
Man did not evolve; nor was Man created out of an accidental or coincidental series of cosmic processes.
God – alone – has the Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipotence to create a being capable of consciousness, consideration, and having a conscience.
Mankind – though far from being the apex predator in any ecosystem – is clearly the singularly dominant and transcendent species on the planet; evidenced by being the only creature to have a conscience, and having the ability to profoundly shape the world through work, culture, and innovation.
God – alone – breathed life into Man, and made Him come alive
Every human being is a “living being” because of the Spirit of God that was breathed upon them; and every human being has a conscience – to feel guilty in wickedness – because of the very same reason.
With His Spirit (Hebrew: Ruach), God placed life (consciousness), heart (conscience) and mind (rationality) within every member of humanity – making us radically unique amongst all living things.
To the Christian, this is deeply significant because with His breath, our Lord Jesus imparted new and full life to His disciples (Ref: John 20:22); and they remain alive to Him to this very day!
The Holy Spirit leans into every human being – whose physical body is animated by a spirit – and convicts every conscious act of the commission of sin, or the omission of good.
God is the source of true life, as well as, the source of the true knowledge – the consciousness and the conscience; which are both necessary together, to form a living human being.
With His Spirit, God touched every human being and made each one come alive.
Our souls are destined to live eternally because we have each been touched by the Spirit of God.
Every human being is connected to God, to one another and to Creation - because we have each been touched by the Spirit of God.
One of my biggest joy, and relief, is when I hear each of my children’s very first breath when they are born.
And I am constantly reminded by the Spirit that that same breath is connected to the very first one that God breathed into Adam to make him a living being.
Christians, we must recognise that God alone gives us life today.
We are here because of God; we are alive because of God.
The implications are deep.
With the breath that God gave you, do you praise Him, honor Him or do you curse Him; do you speak well of Him, badly of Him, or do you even speak of Him at all?
Contemplate this well.
God gave you life. God gave you breath. He gave you a voice.
What are you doing with it?
Multitudes use their lives, bodies, and breaths - that the Creator God lovingly bestowed upon them – to defy Him, to rebel against Him, to curse Him, and to sin against Him.
Do you?
What does this blatant lack of reciprocity speak about the fallen and sinful nature of Mankind?
And yet, “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
What does that tell you about God?
God – alone – is the source of life.
Draw close to Him. Remain in Him. (Ref: John 15:4)
God’s Perfect World - through which He provides all our needs; supernaturally and naturally
“8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.
In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:8-9)
The earth was bare when God formed and breathed life into Adam.
After Adam came into being, the Lord God planted a garden in Eden filled with trees that were good for food.
The supernatural preceded the natural.
What we deem as natural in the world is brought forth supernaturally.
All life on earth is natural – supernaturally.
Look beyond the natural and see the supernatural hand of God at work – around you; and in your life.
God provides all our needs; even our need to express true love – by giving Mankind a choice; to obey Him or not.
Such is the necessity of “the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
The World created and the World at present is one and the same
“10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.
11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.
12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.)
13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.
14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur.
And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
And then we take a break from the main narrative to look at the surroundings of Eden.
The passage connects our present world to the world that God created – it is one and the same world.” (Genesis 2:10-14)
What is the purpose of this literary intermission that digresses from the main theme of God’s Perfect Humanity?
The four rivers that flowed from Eden - Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates – is located in the areas surrounding India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel and Iraq.
The point is that Eden – as mentioned in Genesis 2 - is on this very world.
There is no multiverse; no parallel reality.
This is the only universe; and this is the only reality.
There is no disconnect; and absolutely no degree of separation from our present world to the world when it was first created.
What does this mean?
God’s original design and destiny for Mankind transcends all ages of Mankind and the consequent impacts, prevalent cultures, and belief systems that follow.
God’s design for Mankind and all of Creation was perfect then; it remains perfect today.
So, what is God’s Perfect Design for Mankind?
Perfectly Created For Divine Work, Divine Rest and Divine Relationship
“15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:15-16)
Mankind is created for Divine Work in the state of Divine Rest; founded and framed in Divine Relationship with God.
Mankind was created to work without worry; to enjoy and be rested in the work of Creation care; joyously reveling in God’s command to be “free to eat from any tree in the garden”- which includes the tree of life - and responding gratuitously to His Love by being obedient to care for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, whilst not eating from it.
Have you ever felt rested after working hard?
For Adam, it was every day – before the Fall - since God created and made him come alive!
Adam was in direct communication with God; and had all that he needed for eternity.
He worked in the Garden without a care in the world; and without any anxiety about the fulfillment of his physical needs.
Just work, there will be food to eat - regardless.
In his unfallen state, job satisfaction was guaranteed; and so was God’s Provision for his every need; of which both were completely independent of the other.
To Adam, what he understood from God was: “Just be joyful in your work; there will always be food to eat - regardless.”
How do we understand this passage?
Never attempt to connect your work with your wages; because if you do, you are working for, and serving money - as an idol of the world.
Our Lord Jesus has taught us clearly:
“No one can serve two masters.
Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
The Apostle Paul resonates Christ in exhorting us to:
“Work with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for human masters;
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Work with all your heart as working for the Lord; and know that, regardless, God will supply your needs.
Be obedient to work as working for the Lord; and be thankful for every paycheck.
Never be deceived into thinking that you deserve your income.
I would say simply that there are millions of people who are far more educated, more experienced, more qualified, more resourceful, more enterprising than you but they remain in hard times because of circumstances that are beyond control.
You are where God has placed you; your ability to work comes from God - work from His place of Rest; trust utterly in Him, and be obedient and thankful to Him always, regardless of your circumstance.
God’s original design for work is that we must work only as working for the Lord and be deeply grateful for His Providence – for our inheritance is ultimately received from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (Ref: John 6:35, 6:51, 6:53-58).
For Adam, the tree of life – his inheritance from the Creator - is the tree that would sustain his life indefinitely.
God essentially revealed to him, “I desire that you live forever. I do not want you to die. I want you to be in perpetual relationship with me.”
And Adam’s response was perfect at that time. He obeyed God.
Does God NOT want Adam to know the difference between good and evil?
That is, of course, the wrong question.
God desires for Adam to live; and God certainly desires for Adam to have the wisdom to be able to differentiate between good and evil, but it must be on His terms and from His point of view.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
Man is simply the proverbial toad in a well thinking that the well’s opening is all that the sky is.
God – alone – is omniscient.
So of course, it is better to lean not on our own understanding, but to instead trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our ways – and He will direct our paths. (Ref: Proverbs 3:5-6)
And then, there is the question of love.
For love to be genuine, there must be a choice – to express, or to withhold.
And God provides that very avenue to express true love at a very great risk.
For relationships to truly be free to thrive, there must be boundaries.
To this, the boundary for divine and loving relationship between God and Man has been established.
“I love you.
Look around you. Everything was created for you.
Trust me! Obey me!
Eat from every tree in Eden – including the Tree of Life – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – because if you do, “you will certainly die”
Do not attain knowledge without Me; in fact, because I created you to be in relationship with Me, if you do anything apart from me, you will certainly die.”
And so, God created Man for Divine Work in the state of Divine Rest; founded and framed in Divine Relationship with God.
Is your life so?
It can be.
All you need is to remain in Christ – to trust Him, and to find Rest in Him – and you will be in a right relationship with God.
Now to really conclude the work of Creation – time to make a helper suitable for Adam, and ordain their marriage.
God’s Perfect Foundation and Design for Community
“18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky.
He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper (Heb: E’zer) was found.
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.
22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:18-25)
Man was never meant to be alone.
It is not good.
Our Triune God would know this more than anyone.
And God already named his companion – ‘E’zer’ which is, helper.
She is to be his wife.
God created, and brought the animals and bird to Adam to name; giving Mankind authority and stewardship over every living creature.
God takes the act of naming very seriously; which is why He changes the names of certain people to reveal their purpose and destiny – which is now reflected in their new name.
In all of Creation, the divine purpose of the woman was matchless.
The name that God gave her - ‘E’zer’ - was also a title.
In present cultures, the term ‘helper’ represents someone inferior – a ‘stand in’.
However in the Bible, the name and title of ‘E’zer’ (helper) is a big deal; it reflects superiority.
An ‘E’zer’ is someone who comes into your life to literally deliver, or save you, or to aid you, because of a deep and great need.
Out of the 21 forms of the Hebrew word ‘E’zer’ – 16 times, the word E’zer refered to God.
Psalm 121:1-2:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help (E’zer) come from?
My help (E’zer) comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 124:8:
“Our help (E’zer) is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Adam cannot be his own helper.
He needs help.
Nothing in all of Creation fulfilled that requirement.
Only an ‘E’zer’ – a creature who is divine in nature will be suitable.
Exhortation to husbands and wives:
“Husbands, look at your wives with fresh eyes - from God’s original perspective.
They are God’s blessing sent to aid us through life because on our own, it is simply not good.
Pray daily for your wives that they would lead holy lives through Christ; and pray for yourselves that you would likewise lead holy lives; and ask God for wisdom to take the steps to be restored to His original, holy and perfect purposes for your marriage.
And wives, know your true worth.
Your title is divine; and the source of your life, strength, courage and wisdom is the Lord your God.
Pray daily for yourselves and your husbands.
Don’t boss your husbands, let God boss your husbands; and don’t let your husbands boss you.
Know that your role is holy because you are sent by God to provide His divine form of help.
The sacredness of the distinction between the man and the woman.
Not only can we observe – scientifically – the obvious and radical differences between a man and a woman; in God’s original design, this distinction is sacred, and thus, immutable - established from the very beginning.
The woman was created when Adam was in a deep state of rest.
Every marriage between a man and a woman is established in that rest – a place of profound safety, privacy, intimacy and nurturing.
Whilst the man was created from dust, outside the Garden; the woman was created from the substance of man, within the Garden; making her more refined, maternal; feminine.
The rib taken from his side signifies the woman’s equality to man in God’s sight; is also found under his arm, which speaks to man’s divine responsibility to love and care for his wife, the woman.
Having done that, God closed him up and he was whole again.
Every marriage is made up of the wholeness of a man and a woman; none needing the other to survive, but both needing one another to thrive as the holy image of God under His Love and Sovereign Will.
God took man’s rib and made woman.
Into her lifeless form, God too, breathed His ‘Ruach’ (Spirit) into her, and made her a living being – just as how He gave life to the man.
And when God brought the woman before the man, he fell absolutely in love with her.
The first of countless true love stories – each ordained by God.
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23)
Adam knew exactly who the woman was and essentially said, “You are mine and I am yours. Being “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”, I see your unmatched beauty and I love you more than I love myself.
Such was the first human expression of selfless love; and it was found in God’s original, perfect foundation and design for divine community – established wholly on God’s design for human sexuality and the “one flesh” union between a man and his wife.
Adam and his wife submitted to His Perfect Will, Design and Destiny for Mankind, and they remained perfect in God’s sight.
Their divine and distinct “one flesh” union – and all that follows till this present day - is ordained and sanctified by the Holy God; pre-established on God’s relationship with His Children; and is the foundation from which human community and society was meant to flourish and fill the earth (Ref: Genesis 1:28) – to which our Lord Jesus affirmed God’s Perfect Design for Marriage in Matthew 19:4-8:
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said,
‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard.
But it was not this way from the beginning.”
Never commit the sin of overlooking what the Lord God has ordained from the beginning; or worse, desecrate what God has consecrated.
The ‘one flesh’ marriage union between a man and a woman in becoming husband and wife joined by God is designed and ordained by Him and thus, a holy sacrament of the Church.
From the beginning, “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25).
May we seek and strive to know God - our loving Creator, Provider and Protector – whose original design remains perfect throughout the ages.
We are created in His Image – male and female - for Divine Rest, Divine Work and Divine Relationships; framed in His fellowship with us, and in His Design for ‘one flesh’ union between a husband and his wife as the foundation for human flourishing.
And may He restore each of us, His Children created in His Image – male and female – unto His Divine Rest and Work; framed by Divine Relationships – foremost, with Him – and then in human relationships established on God’s design for marriage between a man and his wife as the foundation for human flourishing.
God has revealed His Original and Perfect Design, Purpose and Destiny for Mankind; may we live fully and truly in His Will for us.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
I acknowledge that Your original design and destiny for Mankind is perfect in every way – then, now and forevermore.
I am grateful that through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, I may live up to Your standard of Glory.
Through this divine revelation, grant me greater clarity for my life and deeper conviction to live in Your Holy Ways; that I may regain a passion to love You more and live to the fullness of Christ once again.
Holy Spirit, I open my life fully to Your Sanctifying Work; that I may fully embrace God’s original design, purpose and destiny for my life.
Grant me more faith that I may live eternally in God’s place of rest; that my life, my work and my relationships would be utterly surrendered to You, devoted to Your Sovereign Will and trusting completely in Your Providence each and every day.
My life and every breath comes from You, O Lord.
May I praise You, honor You and glorify Your Holy Name.
May I bring before You my true and proper worship; offering my body a a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You.
You are my Creator, my Saviour and my Shepherd – in You, I lack nothing!
Teach me to live every aspect of my life from Your Place of Rest; devoted in my service unto You, O God.
I receive Your Love, O Lord, and I will strive to love, trust and obey You with all my heart, my soul, my strength and my mind.
May I constantly be found in right relationship with You!
Grant me courage, resolve and wisdom to encourage and edify every marriage union in the perfect pattern as You have ordained for Adam and the woman – including my own.
Use my life to represent Your Holy design for the flourishing of Mankind, founded upon my relationship with You, and through Your original design for marriage – made up of the wholeness of a man and a woman; none needing the other to survive, but both needing one another to thrive as the holy image of God under His Love and Sovereign Will.
Just as Adam and his wife submitted to Your Perfect Will, Design and Destiny for Mankind, and remained perfect in God’s sight; help us - Your Children – do the same.
May we – as Your Church - seek and strive to know You, O God; our loving Creator, Provider and Protector, whose original design remains perfect throughout the ages.
And may You restore each of us to live fully in Your Perfect Purposes; utterly trusting in Your Sovereign Will for us.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
It is of utmost importance that we recognise that God’s original design and destiny for Mankind is flawless and perfect in every way.
How do we know that?
Adam and his wife were simply perfect in God’s sight; and they lived up to the standard of His glory. (Ref: Genesis 2:25 and Romans 3:23)
Just as Creation is, the human state was perfect.
They were sinless.
They were naked, and yet had nothing to hide.
Adam and his wife were both perfect; because they lived as God had originally designed and destined for them.
So what is God’s original design, purpose, and destiny for Mankind?
You may be wondering that very same question.
You may be seeking greater clarity for your life; or a new direction in your life; or you may currently be plodding through life, eager to regain a passion to live once again.
Open your heart fully to the work of the Holy Spirit this day; and embrace God’s original design, destiny and purposes for you.
God’s Perfect Destiny For Mankind – Blessed, Eternal Life In His Rest
“ Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:1-3)
God’s destiny for us is to be holy as we live in His Rest; devoting our lives to His Will, and trusting completely in His Providence - as testified by the ageless work of His life-giving Creation.
We are truly blessed when we strive to be truly holy.
To be holy is to surrender our lives to God in absolute faithfulness and complete trust – receiving His Salvation in Christ, and living out His Way, Truth and Live.
We live in God’s Rest when we trust Him in every way.
Every aspect of our lives must be lived from God’s Place of Rest.
While the world rests from work, God’s pattern for His Children is to work from His place of rest – for He has already supplied all our needs.
God – Alone – Gives Life
“4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.
7 Then the Lord God formed a man[Heb: Adam]
from the dust of the ground [Heb: Adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:4-7)
The earth was being watered for the abundant plant life that has yet to be created; even as “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground...”
Every single human being is personally, intimately and intricately created by God.
The Psalmist David sings:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
You are precious in God’s sight because He created you.
You came into being only because God intentionally and lovingly created you.
There’s more.
Every human being was not only created by God, we were each given His breath (Hebrew: Ruach, which also alludes to His Spirit) – and became a living being.
This sacred passage contains some deeply significant facts about Man’s creation.
God - alone - created Man.
Man did not evolve; nor was Man created out of an accidental or coincidental series of cosmic processes.
God – alone – has the Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Omnipotence to create a being capable of consciousness, consideration, and having a conscience.
Mankind – though far from being the apex predator in any ecosystem – is clearly the singularly dominant and transcendent species on the planet; evidenced by being the only creature to have a conscience, and having the ability to profoundly shape the world through work, culture, and innovation.
God – alone – breathed life into Man, and made Him come alive
Every human being is a “living being” because of the Spirit of God that was breathed upon them; and every human being has a conscience – to feel guilty in wickedness – because of the very same reason.
With His Spirit (Hebrew: Ruach), God placed life (consciousness), heart (conscience) and mind (rationality) within every member of humanity – making us radically unique amongst all living things.
To the Christian, this is deeply significant because with His breath, our Lord Jesus imparted new and full life to His disciples (Ref: John 20:22); and they remain alive to Him to this very day!
The Holy Spirit leans into every human being – whose physical body is animated by a spirit – and convicts every conscious act of the commission of sin, or the omission of good.
God is the source of true life, as well as, the source of the true knowledge – the consciousness and the conscience; which are both necessary together, to form a living human being.
With His Spirit, God touched every human being and made each one come alive.
Our souls are destined to live eternally because we have each been touched by the Spirit of God.
Every human being is connected to God, to one another and to Creation - because we have each been touched by the Spirit of God.
One of my biggest joy, and relief, is when I hear each of my children’s very first breath when they are born.
And I am constantly reminded by the Spirit that that same breath is connected to the very first one that God breathed into Adam to make him a living being.
Christians, we must recognise that God alone gives us life today.
We are here because of God; we are alive because of God.
The implications are deep.
With the breath that God gave you, do you praise Him, honor Him or do you curse Him; do you speak well of Him, badly of Him, or do you even speak of Him at all?
Contemplate this well.
God gave you life. God gave you breath. He gave you a voice.
What are you doing with it?
Multitudes use their lives, bodies, and breaths - that the Creator God lovingly bestowed upon them – to defy Him, to rebel against Him, to curse Him, and to sin against Him.
Do you?
What does this blatant lack of reciprocity speak about the fallen and sinful nature of Mankind?
And yet, “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
What does that tell you about God?
God – alone – is the source of life.
Draw close to Him. Remain in Him. (Ref: John 15:4)
God’s Perfect World - through which He provides all our needs; supernaturally and naturally
“8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.
In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:8-9)
The earth was bare when God formed and breathed life into Adam.
After Adam came into being, the Lord God planted a garden in Eden filled with trees that were good for food.
The supernatural preceded the natural.
What we deem as natural in the world is brought forth supernaturally.
All life on earth is natural – supernaturally.
Look beyond the natural and see the supernatural hand of God at work – around you; and in your life.
God provides all our needs; even our need to express true love – by giving Mankind a choice; to obey Him or not.
Such is the necessity of “the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”.
The World created and the World at present is one and the same
“10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.
11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.
12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin[d] and onyx are also there.)
13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.
14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur.
And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
And then we take a break from the main narrative to look at the surroundings of Eden.
The passage connects our present world to the world that God created – it is one and the same world.” (Genesis 2:10-14)
What is the purpose of this literary intermission that digresses from the main theme of God’s Perfect Humanity?
The four rivers that flowed from Eden - Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates – is located in the areas surrounding India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel and Iraq.
The point is that Eden – as mentioned in Genesis 2 - is on this very world.
There is no multiverse; no parallel reality.
This is the only universe; and this is the only reality.
There is no disconnect; and absolutely no degree of separation from our present world to the world when it was first created.
What does this mean?
God’s original design and destiny for Mankind transcends all ages of Mankind and the consequent impacts, prevalent cultures, and belief systems that follow.
God’s design for Mankind and all of Creation was perfect then; it remains perfect today.
So, what is God’s Perfect Design for Mankind?
Perfectly Created For Divine Work, Divine Rest and Divine Relationship
“15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:15-16)
Mankind is created for Divine Work in the state of Divine Rest; founded and framed in Divine Relationship with God.
Mankind was created to work without worry; to enjoy and be rested in the work of Creation care; joyously reveling in God’s command to be “free to eat from any tree in the garden”- which includes the tree of life - and responding gratuitously to His Love by being obedient to care for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, whilst not eating from it.
Have you ever felt rested after working hard?
For Adam, it was every day – before the Fall - since God created and made him come alive!
Adam was in direct communication with God; and had all that he needed for eternity.
He worked in the Garden without a care in the world; and without any anxiety about the fulfillment of his physical needs.
Just work, there will be food to eat - regardless.
In his unfallen state, job satisfaction was guaranteed; and so was God’s Provision for his every need; of which both were completely independent of the other.
To Adam, what he understood from God was: “Just be joyful in your work; there will always be food to eat - regardless.”
How do we understand this passage?
Never attempt to connect your work with your wages; because if you do, you are working for, and serving money - as an idol of the world.
Our Lord Jesus has taught us clearly:
“No one can serve two masters.
Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
The Apostle Paul resonates Christ in exhorting us to:
“Work with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for human masters;
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Work with all your heart as working for the Lord; and know that, regardless, God will supply your needs.
Be obedient to work as working for the Lord; and be thankful for every paycheck.
Never be deceived into thinking that you deserve your income.
I would say simply that there are millions of people who are far more educated, more experienced, more qualified, more resourceful, more enterprising than you but they remain in hard times because of circumstances that are beyond control.
You are where God has placed you; your ability to work comes from God - work from His place of Rest; trust utterly in Him, and be obedient and thankful to Him always, regardless of your circumstance.
God’s original design for work is that we must work only as working for the Lord and be deeply grateful for His Providence – for our inheritance is ultimately received from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (Ref: John 6:35, 6:51, 6:53-58).
For Adam, the tree of life – his inheritance from the Creator - is the tree that would sustain his life indefinitely.
God essentially revealed to him, “I desire that you live forever. I do not want you to die. I want you to be in perpetual relationship with me.”
And Adam’s response was perfect at that time. He obeyed God.
Does God NOT want Adam to know the difference between good and evil?
That is, of course, the wrong question.
God desires for Adam to live; and God certainly desires for Adam to have the wisdom to be able to differentiate between good and evil, but it must be on His terms and from His point of view.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
Man is simply the proverbial toad in a well thinking that the well’s opening is all that the sky is.
God – alone – is omniscient.
So of course, it is better to lean not on our own understanding, but to instead trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our ways – and He will direct our paths. (Ref: Proverbs 3:5-6)
And then, there is the question of love.
For love to be genuine, there must be a choice – to express, or to withhold.
And God provides that very avenue to express true love at a very great risk.
For relationships to truly be free to thrive, there must be boundaries.
To this, the boundary for divine and loving relationship between God and Man has been established.
“I love you.
Look around you. Everything was created for you.
Trust me! Obey me!
Eat from every tree in Eden – including the Tree of Life – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – because if you do, “you will certainly die”
Do not attain knowledge without Me; in fact, because I created you to be in relationship with Me, if you do anything apart from me, you will certainly die.”
And so, God created Man for Divine Work in the state of Divine Rest; founded and framed in Divine Relationship with God.
Is your life so?
It can be.
All you need is to remain in Christ – to trust Him, and to find Rest in Him – and you will be in a right relationship with God.
Now to really conclude the work of Creation – time to make a helper suitable for Adam, and ordain their marriage.
God’s Perfect Foundation and Design for Community
“18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky.
He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper (Heb: E’zer) was found.
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.
22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:18-25)
Man was never meant to be alone.
It is not good.
Our Triune God would know this more than anyone.
And God already named his companion – ‘E’zer’ which is, helper.
She is to be his wife.
God created, and brought the animals and bird to Adam to name; giving Mankind authority and stewardship over every living creature.
God takes the act of naming very seriously; which is why He changes the names of certain people to reveal their purpose and destiny – which is now reflected in their new name.
In all of Creation, the divine purpose of the woman was matchless.
The name that God gave her - ‘E’zer’ - was also a title.
In present cultures, the term ‘helper’ represents someone inferior – a ‘stand in’.
However in the Bible, the name and title of ‘E’zer’ (helper) is a big deal; it reflects superiority.
An ‘E’zer’ is someone who comes into your life to literally deliver, or save you, or to aid you, because of a deep and great need.
Out of the 21 forms of the Hebrew word ‘E’zer’ – 16 times, the word E’zer refered to God.
Psalm 121:1-2:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help (E’zer) come from?
My help (E’zer) comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 124:8:
“Our help (E’zer) is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Adam cannot be his own helper.
He needs help.
Nothing in all of Creation fulfilled that requirement.
Only an ‘E’zer’ – a creature who is divine in nature will be suitable.
Exhortation to husbands and wives:
“Husbands, look at your wives with fresh eyes - from God’s original perspective.
They are God’s blessing sent to aid us through life because on our own, it is simply not good.
Pray daily for your wives that they would lead holy lives through Christ; and pray for yourselves that you would likewise lead holy lives; and ask God for wisdom to take the steps to be restored to His original, holy and perfect purposes for your marriage.
And wives, know your true worth.
Your title is divine; and the source of your life, strength, courage and wisdom is the Lord your God.
Pray daily for yourselves and your husbands.
Don’t boss your husbands, let God boss your husbands; and don’t let your husbands boss you.
Know that your role is holy because you are sent by God to provide His divine form of help.
The sacredness of the distinction between the man and the woman.
Not only can we observe – scientifically – the obvious and radical differences between a man and a woman; in God’s original design, this distinction is sacred, and thus, immutable - established from the very beginning.
The woman was created when Adam was in a deep state of rest.
Every marriage between a man and a woman is established in that rest – a place of profound safety, privacy, intimacy and nurturing.
Whilst the man was created from dust, outside the Garden; the woman was created from the substance of man, within the Garden; making her more refined, maternal; feminine.
The rib taken from his side signifies the woman’s equality to man in God’s sight; is also found under his arm, which speaks to man’s divine responsibility to love and care for his wife, the woman.
Having done that, God closed him up and he was whole again.
Every marriage is made up of the wholeness of a man and a woman; none needing the other to survive, but both needing one another to thrive as the holy image of God under His Love and Sovereign Will.
God took man’s rib and made woman.
Into her lifeless form, God too, breathed His ‘Ruach’ (Spirit) into her, and made her a living being – just as how He gave life to the man.
And when God brought the woman before the man, he fell absolutely in love with her.
The first of countless true love stories – each ordained by God.
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23)
Adam knew exactly who the woman was and essentially said, “You are mine and I am yours. Being “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”, I see your unmatched beauty and I love you more than I love myself.
Such was the first human expression of selfless love; and it was found in God’s original, perfect foundation and design for divine community – established wholly on God’s design for human sexuality and the “one flesh” union between a man and his wife.
Adam and his wife submitted to His Perfect Will, Design and Destiny for Mankind, and they remained perfect in God’s sight.
Their divine and distinct “one flesh” union – and all that follows till this present day - is ordained and sanctified by the Holy God; pre-established on God’s relationship with His Children; and is the foundation from which human community and society was meant to flourish and fill the earth (Ref: Genesis 1:28) – to which our Lord Jesus affirmed God’s Perfect Design for Marriage in Matthew 19:4-8:
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said,
‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard.
But it was not this way from the beginning.”
Never commit the sin of overlooking what the Lord God has ordained from the beginning; or worse, desecrate what God has consecrated.
The ‘one flesh’ marriage union between a man and a woman in becoming husband and wife joined by God is designed and ordained by Him and thus, a holy sacrament of the Church.
From the beginning, “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25).
May we seek and strive to know God - our loving Creator, Provider and Protector – whose original design remains perfect throughout the ages.
We are created in His Image – male and female - for Divine Rest, Divine Work and Divine Relationships; framed in His fellowship with us, and in His Design for ‘one flesh’ union between a husband and his wife as the foundation for human flourishing.
And may He restore each of us, His Children created in His Image – male and female – unto His Divine Rest and Work; framed by Divine Relationships – foremost, with Him – and then in human relationships established on God’s design for marriage between a man and his wife as the foundation for human flourishing.
God has revealed His Original and Perfect Design, Purpose and Destiny for Mankind; may we live fully and truly in His Will for us.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
I acknowledge that Your original design and destiny for Mankind is perfect in every way – then, now and forevermore.
I am grateful that through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, I may live up to Your standard of Glory.
Through this divine revelation, grant me greater clarity for my life and deeper conviction to live in Your Holy Ways; that I may regain a passion to love You more and live to the fullness of Christ once again.
Holy Spirit, I open my life fully to Your Sanctifying Work; that I may fully embrace God’s original design, purpose and destiny for my life.
Grant me more faith that I may live eternally in God’s place of rest; that my life, my work and my relationships would be utterly surrendered to You, devoted to Your Sovereign Will and trusting completely in Your Providence each and every day.
My life and every breath comes from You, O Lord.
May I praise You, honor You and glorify Your Holy Name.
May I bring before You my true and proper worship; offering my body a a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You.
You are my Creator, my Saviour and my Shepherd – in You, I lack nothing!
Teach me to live every aspect of my life from Your Place of Rest; devoted in my service unto You, O God.
I receive Your Love, O Lord, and I will strive to love, trust and obey You with all my heart, my soul, my strength and my mind.
May I constantly be found in right relationship with You!
Grant me courage, resolve and wisdom to encourage and edify every marriage union in the perfect pattern as You have ordained for Adam and the woman – including my own.
Use my life to represent Your Holy design for the flourishing of Mankind, founded upon my relationship with You, and through Your original design for marriage – made up of the wholeness of a man and a woman; none needing the other to survive, but both needing one another to thrive as the holy image of God under His Love and Sovereign Will.
Just as Adam and his wife submitted to Your Perfect Will, Design and Destiny for Mankind, and remained perfect in God’s sight; help us - Your Children – do the same.
May we – as Your Church - seek and strive to know You, O God; our loving Creator, Provider and Protector, whose original design remains perfect throughout the ages.
And may You restore each of us to live fully in Your Perfect Purposes; utterly trusting in Your Sovereign Will for us.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.