Creator, Father, King #42

Now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.

ONCE ADAM AND EVE sinned, they had to pack their bags . . . or their suitcases . . . or their knapsacks . . . or their fanny packs . . .

Wait, none of these things had been invented yet.

Hmmm.

Well, anyway, they had to leave Eden. Look at Genesis 3:23-24:

The LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Tragically, Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from God.

What’s It Mean?

At first glance, this exile from the Garden sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But remember: God is holy and righteous in all his ways. He cannot allow unatoned sin in his presence.

Sadly, the unique fellowship Adam and Eve enjoyed with God was broken. Their sin had ended the beautifully unique interactions they experienced with their Creator in Paradise (Genesis 3:8).

But remember this, too: the Fall didn’t surprise God. Before time began, he knew all humanity, including you, would rebel against him, and he had a plan to reconcile—or restore broken relationships—with his people through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Look at the magnificent truth found in Colossians 1:19-22:

God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Aren’t you glad that the story didn’t end at Genesis 3? Aren’t you glad that God is a loving King who pursues his wayward children? Sin separates us from God, but Jesus beautifully reconciles this broken relationship!

Now What?

To learn more about reconciliation through Christ, read Romans 5:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

Did You Know?

Before God sent Adam and Eve from the Garden, he killed an animal to make them clothing and cover their nakedness (Genesis 3:21). It was a foreshadowing of the sacrificial atonement for sins that happened when Jesus died on the cross.