GPiper
July 17th 2003, 06:59 AM
Long ago in a distant land in a garden filled with light a choice was made, a choice echoing across time and space. A choice that would pre-sentence you to eternal death.
The serpent was the craftiest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman, “Really?” he asked. “None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn't eat any of it?” “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. “It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn't eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” “That's a lie!” the serpent hissed. “You'll not die! God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like him, for your eyes will be opened--you will be able to distinguish good from evil!” The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too. {Genesis 3:1 – 3:6 LVB}
Long ago in a distant land in another garden filled with darkness another choice was made, one echoing into eternity. A choice that would overturn your pre-sentence of death.
He (Jesus) went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.” {Matthew 26:39 LVB}
As your day unfolds take a few moments and close your eyes. Allow the Holy Spirit to paint across the pages of your life two Gardens both years apart yet geographically close, representing choices at both ends of the spectrum. Then painstakingly paint yourself at mid-point between the two choices and listen very carefully and you’ll hear the whispering voice of the Spirit.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no eternal doom awaiting those who trust him to save them. But those who don't trust him have already been tried and condemned for not believing in the only Son of God. Their sentence is based on this fact: that the Light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” {John 3:16 – 3:19 LVB}
Gary Piper
The serpent was the craftiest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman, “Really?” he asked. “None of the fruit in the garden? God says you mustn't eat any of it?” “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. “It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn't eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” “That's a lie!” the serpent hissed. “You'll not die! God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like him, for your eyes will be opened--you will be able to distinguish good from evil!” The woman was convinced. How lovely and fresh looking it was! And it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband, and he ate it too. {Genesis 3:1 – 3:6 LVB}
Long ago in a distant land in another garden filled with darkness another choice was made, one echoing into eternity. A choice that would overturn your pre-sentence of death.
He (Jesus) went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.” {Matthew 26:39 LVB}
As your day unfolds take a few moments and close your eyes. Allow the Holy Spirit to paint across the pages of your life two Gardens both years apart yet geographically close, representing choices at both ends of the spectrum. Then painstakingly paint yourself at mid-point between the two choices and listen very carefully and you’ll hear the whispering voice of the Spirit.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no eternal doom awaiting those who trust him to save them. But those who don't trust him have already been tried and condemned for not believing in the only Son of God. Their sentence is based on this fact: that the Light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” {John 3:16 – 3:19 LVB}
Gary Piper