#1188 0104 09A

            In the beginning, God explained His Truth and His plan for our lives.  The perfect environment given to Adam is what God wants for His children today—if they will believe and trust Him in faith.  Two theories explain how life began—the evolution theory (in school textbooks) and the Creation story (in God’s Textbook)—both require faith to accept as true.

            The evolution theory is for those who will not believe, and the Creation story is for those who are willing to believe—through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.  John 12:46, ”I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”  With a willingness to believe, we can receive the Holy Spirit, who enlightens us to the truth of God’s Word and empowers us in faith to follow its instructions.

            Scientists convince people that the universe was created billions of years ago when super-dense matter exploded—but there is no scientific evidence to prove that.  The Bible contains the divine revelation of God about why humans were placed on earth and how they are to conduct their lives.  The evidence of a Creator is everywhere.  Psalm 19:1 ”The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

            God has promised to reveal His divine Truth to anyone who sincerely wants to know.  John 16:13 “When He has come—the Spirit of Truth—He will guide you into all the truth” and “will make known the future to you.”   It begins with a willingness to believe in faith that all things are possible with God Matthew 19:26.  The Bible also includes the story of God’s Son who came to show us God’s love and divine plan.  He told Philip John 14:9 "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”  God is present here on earth, and it is our responsibility to seek Him.

            It is encouraging to know that accepting God’s Truth and following His plan leads to eternal life.  On the other side, it is disturbing to realize that accepting Satan’s lies and following worldly plans leads to eternal suffering.  The result of no faith in God is always the lake of fire, and the result of enduring faith in Christ is always the eternal kingdom. 

God created two people to be happy and contented—two things everyone seeks.  There was nothing to upset them because God had blessed them.  Their spiritual outlook on things resulted from their right attitude toward God.  They enjoyed health, protection, provisions, and peace without doing anything but loving and obeying God.

            They enjoyed the company of God and had a close parent/child relationship with Him.  They felt comfortable talking with Him about anything important in their life.  There was no fear until they sinned.  Genesis 3:8 ”Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

            It is vital to understand how they lost that close relationship and happiness, because knowing the cause of their problems, will reveal the cause of every other problem in the world.  Governments implement social programs to make life better, but they have failed.  Horrible crimes against humanity give evidence of self and Satan’s control of the human mind.

            Satan’s control is the root cause of all the trouble the world has experienced.  Proverbs 13:15 “The way of transgressors is hard,” and 1 John 5:19 “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  When Adam disobeyed God and went his own way, his nature changed—and this rejection of God’s Word continues to this day.

            Satan convinced Eve that if she would accept his lie and reject God’s Word, they would be able to make decisions that would improve their life.  The delusion of once saved always saved began when Satan convinced the first people that their choices in life would not affect their relationship with God.  Genesis 3:3-5 “‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’  ‘You will not surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.’"

            False teaching today says the same thing—no matter what you decide or choose to live your life, you are eternally secure.  The only security we have is being under the blood of Christ and walking in the light of God’s Truth by a deliberate choice to remain in Christ by obeying God’s Word.  The other choice is to cut ourselves off from Him through unbelief.  Israel was broken off Romans 11:20 ”because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.  Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.”

            When Adam accepted the lie and rejected the truth his nature changed from submission to rebellion.  Instead of a loving God who would do anything for them, they accepted the lie that He would not do anything for them.  There are a multitude of professed Christians who think a person is foolish if they actually trust God for healing without prescriptions, for finances without funds laid-up, and for protection without firearms or seatbelts.

            Most professing believers think a person is out of touch with reality if they actually trust God for a suitable job without hunting for one, a house to rent without searching through classifieds, or trust God for an attitude change in a loved one without forcing them to change by efforts of their own.  They think it is very foolish to trust God to that level of faith, but it is very wise to trust God in believing faith 1 Corinthians 3:19 ”For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”

            When Adam and Eve disobeyed, they were not close to God anymore, and the world just keeps getting further and further away from God.  Ever since that fateful decision, humans have tried to prove that the Lord is wrong and the world is right—but they have failed!

            God’s plan for living His Truth in the Old Testament was right after Moses and Israel began their wilderness journey.  God gave instructions on how to live by obeying His Commands.  Deuteronomy 28:2 ”All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God,” but it had to be done in their own strength and ability.

            They tried to follow God’s plan and they carried through with sacrifices, offerings, rituals and ceremonies, but they failed!  It all ended by crucifying God’s Son.  That is how terribly they failed to obey God’s commands by their own ability.

God later introduced a second plan which would change our nature by removing Satan’s control.  The sin nature wants to disobey and the divine nature wants to obey—that is why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 18:3.

            The problems and difficulties in life result from not knowing, or not being willing, to follow His plan of righteousness by faith.  Deuteronomy 28:15 ”If you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”  Blessings if we obey, and curses if we disobey. 

The Christian life is one of spiritual progress each day as we meet things according to God’s Word.  Fruits of repentance should be seen.  The Holy Spirit in our heart restrains us from saying things that hurt people and from doing things that harm them.  The Spirit of God in our heart has us to give the best to others and we take what is left.  We will want to give in a way that no one knows, as Jesus said Matthew 6:3.  We will work as if Jesus were our boss—because He is our Lord.  We will give our employer our best effort.  A right commitment to God’s Truth results in a right attitude toward everyone else.

            God’s Truth began when He gave Adam a choice and some instructions.  That choice, that Truth, and His Word of instruction continues to this day.  Jesus said Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  Staying connected to Christ is an eternal life issue.  John 15:7 ”If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

            Because of the forgiveness given to every repentant sinner, we can claim and receive our atonement rights.  We can live by the control of the Holy Spirit, simply by a choice to believe in faith that our sins are forgiven.  Hebrews 8:8-9 "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.”  ”It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them.”

            The New Testament plan of God’s Truth is based on the atonement work of Christ and the control of His Spirit.  The Word of God is the plan and the power of God is the way.  The Holy Spirit will take wrong desires out of our heart and replace them with Christ-like attitudes.  Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

            Jesus said He calls us friends John 15:15-16 because, “everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  He said, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

            Outward religious activities have no value, but it is Galatians 5:6, ”Faith expressing itself through love,” that counts.  If we truly love the Lord, living God’s Truth will be the only desire of our heart—a Truth that began back in Genesis, but still holds true today.  Jesus prayed John 17:11 ” Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.  17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”