And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15.
To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden. The Lord declared, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This sentence, uttered in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. While it foretold war between man and Satan, it declared that the power of the great adversary would finally be broken…. Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A period of probation would be granted them, and through repentance, and faith in Christ, they might again become the children of God.
The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, “Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He shall have another chance.”
As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. Christ knew that He would have to suffer, yet He became man’s substitute. As soon as Adam sinned, the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died upon the cross of Calvary.
Although gloom and darkness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the Star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ. Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.
The Faith I Live By p. 75
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Prayer Requests
—-Latest update on Carlos. Today at 10:00am, he has a 4 hour two part test to see what’s going on in his heart. He has calcification in the arch of his aorta pray there’s not any blockage. He really needs this surgery this Tuesday. Most of all, prayers that the Holy Spirit wakes Him up and reveals Himself to Carlos. I’ve been praying for God to do whatever it takes so Carlos surrenders once & for all. My husband knows about the God of the Sabbath and believes in all 10 Commandments but, the stinking world still has its grip. Connie
—-Urgent prayer request for my son Nicholas that is 37 and disabled. He is going through a real rough patch and verbally attacking the people that are trying to help him the most. He has not eaten in two days and I am at wits end with him. Shirley
—-Asking for prayers for my niece Melissa. Melissa is currently hospitalized, 18 plus seizures per day. Melanie
—-Please pray for a church leader who seems to be going backwards spiritually. Buck
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Dear Friends,
When Ronnie Jay and Esther Marie were children, I worked part time. That was no problem, as Eileen was there to baby-sit. One summer, our landlord gave Eileen a job. It was necessary then to leave the younger ones alone for a few hours while we worked. In Washington state it was legal for a child as young as 10 to baby sit a sibling and Ronnie Jay was a little older than that.
Each time I had to leave for work, I would explain to them that Eileen was working less than a mile away and made sure that they had phone numbers for her, Ron, and me just in case their were any problems. I also instructed them that they were not to let anyone, not even friends, inside the house. There were no exceptions.
Their best friend lived about 1/4 mile away and the three of them enjoyed playing together. He would often come over to our house while I was gone. The three friends wanted to play together, but Ronnie Jay and Esther Marie knew better than to let him in. They thought and thought of a solution to their problem. What could they do?
Finally one of them had an idea. Their friend would stay on the screened porch and Ronnie Jay would open the window. He took the screen out of the window. That way they could pass toys back and forth. They thought this was great. They could obey and still play together. After all, he wasn’t exactly in the house. Just before it was time for me to come home, Ronnie Jay would put the screen back in the window. In this way, I never knew as they were very careful not to tell me of this arrangement until years later. They knew that having such a good friend that close would make it really easy to think up a reason why he should come inside. They knew that I expected that they would obey completely and not put temptation into their own path.
How often we do the same. How many times we put temptation into our own path and get just as close to our pet sins as we dare, thinking that we are strong enough not to fall again. We want desperately to do something God’s Word says we shouldn’t, so we get just as close to it as we dare or rationalize and do it anyway. We are like those children thinking of a way around the command.
I once heard a minister say that some people seem to think that the Ten Commandments are just ten suggestions. How often we live like that were the case. We analyze and rationalize them away as mere suggestions. We decide that it won’t hurt to get just as close to disobedience as we dare while appearing to obey. Suddenly, we find ourselves headlong into sin.
Solomon advises, “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Prov 4:27 Paul adds, “flee fornication” “flee idolatry” 1 Cor 6:18;10:14 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:22 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.” 1 Tim 6:11-17
Our Great Creator and Redeemer, He Who only hath immortality, pleads with us now with His arms open wide to receive us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,” Eze 33:11 “I will dwell in [you], and walk in [you]; and I will be [your] God, and [you] shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:16-18 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe is waiting with longing desire for us to turn away from our “darling sins” and say as did David, ” Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path.” Ps 73:25; 27:11
May we stop getting just as close to sin as we dare and, instead, fully obey our Dear Saviour from a heart of full of love for His Great Love for us. May we accept the grace and forgiveness that our Dear Saviour offers for He is “merciful and gracious and abundant in goodness and truth.” Ex 34:6 May we come to Him for cleansing from all that separates us from Him for He is ready to receive us now while the door of mercy is still open.
Rose
First Promise of Redemption