Genesis 3:1-8 is the sad account of Adam's fall. This week I have been thinking about what life must have been like for Adam before the fall, spending his days walking with God through that beautiful garden. For a moment, let us contemplate this idea of “walking with God”. There are two places in scripture that specifically mention people who walked with God: Genesis 5:22, “Enoch walked with God” and Genesis 6:9, “Noah walked with God.”
The phrase “walk with” denotes a constant and familiar intercourse—as with neighbors and friends in mutual visits and in social concerns. In other words, having constant and familiar visits with God.
Life is called a walk. “The walk of life” is a phrase we hear often. When we become a Christian, our walk changes. The finish line is now something we look forward too! You are given the strength to walk circumspectly (diligently, carefully) and the tools to walk worthy (becomingly, appropriately). And for the entire walk—the Lord walks with you!
But...is it just a walk? Or is it “a constant and familiar intercourse”?
After Adam and Eve sinned, v. 8 says, “they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden”. Even though scripture does not specifically say, we can safely deduce that God’s visits with His creation (Adam and Eve) were constant and familiar. But, something changed that day. Because of Adam and Eve’s fall, sin entered the world—which affected their walk with God. Immediately God set in motion Salvation’s plan! The ultimate plan to reconcile with His creation. To get back that constant and familiar intercourse He so lovingly desires to have with His creation.
How often do you think about the fact that salvation’s plan is just God trying to reconcile with His creation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)? And every circumstance in the Christian life (whether painful or pleasurable) is just God desiring to keep us close—desiring to maintain that constant and familiar intercourse with us. Yes…God desires constant and familiar intercourse with us! He loves visiting with us!
A few more thoughts:
When God visited with Adam and Eve, they were naked. They brought nothing but themselves, had nothing to hide. When we visit with God, it is okay to come before Him spiritually and emotionally naked. First of all, you should not be afraid to be yourself in His presence. Why is it that people change their voice inflection and terminology when talking to God? Prayers are so rigid, and almost plastic. Just be yourself! Hebrews 4:16 says we can visit with God boldly. The word “boldly” is translated from a Greek word that means “all outspokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness; with assurance.” Yes, honor and respect Him as God, but also visit with Him as you would a neighbor or friend. Secondly, you have nothing to hide when in His presence. Has it ever occurred to you, it is okay to be totally honest with God? He already sees everything about you—your desires, emotions, failures, sins—He would prefer to hear it straight from your mouth. Let Him know how you feel about things. Whether it be cries of praise or cries of pain, be honest with Him!
Also, When Adam and Eve blew it (and they blew it big!), there were some interesting things I noticed about God. First of all, He still desired to visit with His creation - even after they had failed Him! He still came looking for Adam and Eve. Second of all, He didn’t come crashing through the garden in a righteous fury, angry at them, looking to clobber them for the evil they did. No. It was the same caring God as before, walking through the garden, looking for Adam and Eve, lovingly calling for them, longing to see them, desiring to visit with them—even after He knew what they had done. Chew on that one for awhile.
The question again: Is it just a walk? Or, to you, is it a constant and familiar intercourse? As you walk with God, how often do you visit with God? The way it works is simple: You talk to Him through prayer. He talks to you through His Word. What a sweet visit, when friend communes with friend.
Is your Christian life just a walk? Or is it a constant and familiar intercourse with your God?
The phrase “walk with” denotes a constant and familiar intercourse—as with neighbors and friends in mutual visits and in social concerns. In other words, having constant and familiar visits with God.
Life is called a walk. “The walk of life” is a phrase we hear often. When we become a Christian, our walk changes. The finish line is now something we look forward too! You are given the strength to walk circumspectly (diligently, carefully) and the tools to walk worthy (becomingly, appropriately). And for the entire walk—the Lord walks with you!
But...is it just a walk? Or is it “a constant and familiar intercourse”?
After Adam and Eve sinned, v. 8 says, “they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden”. Even though scripture does not specifically say, we can safely deduce that God’s visits with His creation (Adam and Eve) were constant and familiar. But, something changed that day. Because of Adam and Eve’s fall, sin entered the world—which affected their walk with God. Immediately God set in motion Salvation’s plan! The ultimate plan to reconcile with His creation. To get back that constant and familiar intercourse He so lovingly desires to have with His creation.
How often do you think about the fact that salvation’s plan is just God trying to reconcile with His creation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)? And every circumstance in the Christian life (whether painful or pleasurable) is just God desiring to keep us close—desiring to maintain that constant and familiar intercourse with us. Yes…God desires constant and familiar intercourse with us! He loves visiting with us!
A few more thoughts:
When God visited with Adam and Eve, they were naked. They brought nothing but themselves, had nothing to hide. When we visit with God, it is okay to come before Him spiritually and emotionally naked. First of all, you should not be afraid to be yourself in His presence. Why is it that people change their voice inflection and terminology when talking to God? Prayers are so rigid, and almost plastic. Just be yourself! Hebrews 4:16 says we can visit with God boldly. The word “boldly” is translated from a Greek word that means “all outspokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness; with assurance.” Yes, honor and respect Him as God, but also visit with Him as you would a neighbor or friend. Secondly, you have nothing to hide when in His presence. Has it ever occurred to you, it is okay to be totally honest with God? He already sees everything about you—your desires, emotions, failures, sins—He would prefer to hear it straight from your mouth. Let Him know how you feel about things. Whether it be cries of praise or cries of pain, be honest with Him!
Also, When Adam and Eve blew it (and they blew it big!), there were some interesting things I noticed about God. First of all, He still desired to visit with His creation - even after they had failed Him! He still came looking for Adam and Eve. Second of all, He didn’t come crashing through the garden in a righteous fury, angry at them, looking to clobber them for the evil they did. No. It was the same caring God as before, walking through the garden, looking for Adam and Eve, lovingly calling for them, longing to see them, desiring to visit with them—even after He knew what they had done. Chew on that one for awhile.
The question again: Is it just a walk? Or, to you, is it a constant and familiar intercourse? As you walk with God, how often do you visit with God? The way it works is simple: You talk to Him through prayer. He talks to you through His Word. What a sweet visit, when friend communes with friend.
Is your Christian life just a walk? Or is it a constant and familiar intercourse with your God?
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