Life isn’t fair, and God is not always understood. An Old Testament Proverb goes something like this; sometimes you might have to draw straws when faced with a tough decision.
I have not liked that proverb because (to me) it gives the impression that God is not involved in your life. I am confident that my perception is inaccurate, but sometimes it feels that way!
Here are the facts
1— God is the creator
God is the creator, and a long, long time ago, he created something he called man—a male version and a female version.
2— man is at the centerpiece of his joy
God created many things as a creator, but man (the species) is at the centerpiece of his joy.
3—Man chose to disobey
Man (the species) chose to disobey God, forcing his hand and removing his prize creation from his perfect home—a place called Eden.
4— God devised a plan
God devised a plan (a very elaborate one) to return man (the species) to their (male and female) rightful position in creation.
The plan involved the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s only Son.
The Apostle John records it this way:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 New International Version
5—Man must acknowledge the plan
Every man (the species) who acknowledges the Son’s death, burial, and resurrection stands on the threshold of being restored to their (male and female) original place in creation.
Enter the adversary
6—The devil (the adversary) has something to say mans (the species) restoration to their (male and female) place in creation.
As a fallen angel, and the one given charge of the earthly realm, the devil is possessive of his possessions. Since man (the species) surrendered their (male and female) position to him, he does everything he can to keep them under his bondage.
The depth of that bondage plays out in man’s (the species) movement across the threshold of their (male and female) original place in creation.
The Apostle Paul addresses it this way in the New Testament, writing to the Christ-followers in Rome.
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Romans 7:24 New Living Testament
These are the facts (according to the Bible), and I hold them to be true.
The question becomes, how do I pass the threshold of man’s (the species) downfall and enter the original place of my creation?
The Old Testament book of Proverbs offers some answers.
The Wisdom of Solomon outlines a close personal relationship with God the Father, the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The rendering is from the fourth chapter of Proverbs using The Message version.
1—Listen to my words
“Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.”
It takes time to train your ears to understand the voice of God. It is a process requiring determination to stay with it until you “know” his voice.
2—Read my word
“Keep my message in plain view at all times.”
There is a daily commitment to do more than read the Bible but to think about what it says and what it means. Reading the Bible to check it off your list amounts to a religious performance. However, committing to understand what you read enables you to step across the threshold and enter into your intended purpose as a child of God.
3—Memorize the word
“Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul bursting with health.”
As you commit to getting into the Word of God, the Word of God is already committed to getting into you, changing you from the inside out.
It is time to know Jesus.
A close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is an unexpected journey of discovery.