Psalm 40; Isaiah 1:18
Adam and Eve had the greatest privilege of communing face-to-face with their Creator in the Garden of Eden. Oh, how wonderful it must have been to speak freely with their Maker and King, to confide in His bosom and spend precious time expressing gratitude for the gift of life, which they owed to Him.
The holy angels and Jesus Himself delighted in visiting them to teach, instruct, and pour out divine love which they received with praise and gratefulness in their hearts. But this beautiful relationship was short-lived. The enemy severed this sacred union through the poison of sin, using sophistry and deceitful persuasion to tempt them with the illusion of divine power in disobedience. The wages of sin is separation from our holy God: “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God…” — Genesis 3:8
This was God’s voice pleading, “Come now, let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” Yet sin had eradicated the love humanity once had for divine communion. Just as our first parents hid from the presence of Christ, we too find no pleasure in communing with God while harboring sin. We lose interest in spiritual matters. Sin and righteousness cannot coexist. Sin separates us from God, leaving us vulnerable to Satan’s control. It is only when humanity recognizes its helplessness to save itself from sin’s grip that it begins to cry out for deliverance. And praise God, there is a Saviour who can redeem us!
“To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree, and to tempt her husband also to transgress; but their sin opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step?” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 61
One seemingly harmless act, plucking fruit against God’s word—cast humanity into the darkest pit, battling sin, death, toil, pain, and suffering. But thanks be to God: as soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour to comfort, strengthen, and deliver.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” — Galatians 5:1
Like David, we too can proclaim:
“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” — Psalm 40:2–3
In Mark 5:1–19, we see the Saviour’s power to free those possessed by a legion of demons, men so marred by sin that they appeared more like wild beasts than human. Yet Christ recognized them. He heard their unspoken cries for mercy and delivered them from Satan’s grip.
This is the liberty we have in Jesus Christ: freedom from addiction, sinful practices, and the shame of our past. Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Reflection
May I always remember: there is no pit too deep, no sin too great, from which Christ cannot rescue me when I call upon His name. And having been saved, may I walk boldly in righteousness, living only for my Saviour.
Prayer
Gracious Heavenly Father, remain in my life and live out Your life within me. For only through You can sin be overcome. Keep me daily in Your righteousness, living for You alone, until the day I meet You in the clouds of heaven. This is my daily prayer, in Jesus’ name, amen.