One of my favorite things to do with our
daughters is to read the Jesus Storybook
Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. At
the present time my 4 year-old daughter, Kate, is fascinated with the story of
Genesis 3: The Fall. Every time we read she says, “Daddy, I
want to read about Adam and Eve and the snake.” I smile and think to myself,
“If she only knew the ruin and tragedy that sin brought that day.”
Sin
brings a total reversal to how things are supposed to be and how we were designed
as creatures.
Now Instead of order there is chaos. Instead of life there is pain,
death, and disease. Instead of
enjoying God’s good gifts, we are filled with envy. Instead of resting, we run. Instead of obeying, we shake our fist at God and rebel
against him. Instead of harmony in
relationships there is struggle and conflict. However,
despite the ruin we see in Genesis 3 there is also hope. Verse 8 says, “They heard the Lord God
walking in the garden.” Do you see
it? They are ruined, but God does
not abandon the Garden but instead he goes looking for them. God pursues ruined sinners! If I am honest there are lots of times
when I don’t believe that. I think
for sure God will draw back from me in my ruin. But that’s not the gospel. That’s not what God does. He draws near!
As
He draws near, He also draws out. He asks Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” He
could have gone straight to the charge and killed them on the spot, but he
doesn’t. He asks questions - “Who told you are naked? Why did you do it?” He is saying ‘from where is your shame
coming?’ He is trying to draw the
reason for their shame, not trying to ruthlessly shame them. He is looking for confession and
repentance, not coming for condemnation.
The
reason he draws near and draws out because he knows someone is going pay. When
something is ruined someone has to pay and it’s Him. God says, “I am going to
send my Son born of a woman. The serpent will strike his heel and through
suffering and pain Jesus will bear the wrath you and I deserve BUT he will
crush the serpent’s head and you will be redeemed and rescued no matter how
ruined you may be!”
This is the message of the gospel. This is the heart of RUF. Week in and week out in large groups,
small groups, and one-on-one meetings we tell students who have been broken
and bruised by The Fall that Jesus stands ready to save them.
