We have begun sending out flyers to different camps and such to line up some speaking engagements in preparation for the release of the book. In putting these together I did an intense study on the book of Genesis and the relationship that Adam had with God and His creation.
The truth is that we get a glimpse of the relationship with the life of Christ. Throughout His ministry He continually speaks of doing the will of the Father. The way that He treated people and the compassion that He had is enough to show us the desire of God in regards to a relationship with Him and how that relationship affects the one that we have with others.
As I took a walk through the creation story yet again I was amazed at how much stood out to me during this trip. With the help of Matthew Henry's commentary I looked closely at each of the verses and compared them with what Henry had to say. While the verses are straight forward there are things that we can tell by what is transpiring at the time. During creation God gave names to all that He created but yet He gave Adam the honor of naming the animals. This provides us with a glimpse of the relationship that God had with man before sin entered into the world. It pictures a loving father who gives his son the honor of naming a family pet. The closeness of the two is ultimately shown because after all Adam was His creation as well. He is maintaining that the heavens; which include the entire universe is His, He has named it all including the earth, and gives the name to the sea, but that which is on the earth He turns over the responsibility of to Adam.
As I read this I several thoughts came to mind. I thought of when dad first taught me how to mow the lawn and the excitement that I had as he turned over that chore to me. I also thought of our first hunting trip together and how both of these were pivotal points in my life because it became a time that dad was not just dad; he was also a friend. There was still that hierarchy there and he was still the authority figure but at the same time he was now a friend that I could talk to and share things with. As he slowly turned over more and more responsibilities to me it revealed his faith and trust in me and I was bound and determined to not let him down.
I am certain that Adam felt the same way here and I am also certain that he took extra care in naming the animals. He was given the responsibility of tending the garden and I am sure that he lovingly attended to all his duties; not because he had to but because he wanted to please his Creator and father. Yes, I am sure that the relationship that they had was exactly what God had intended for us for all times. We are told in Genesis chapter 9 as Noah leaves the ark that God re-establishes our covenant with the animals but this time it is based upon the fear of us and not the love that was evident in the garden.
In Genesis 5 however we see the relationship with a man that must have been reminiscent of the one that God had with Adam at creation. Not 6 generations later we find a man named Enoch who had such a relationship with God that God took him. He did not die but was translated up to heaven. We find the message that he preached in the book of Jude. It would not be long before God would destroy the earth with the flood because of the wickedness of man but in Enoch we learn that he walked with God. Adam was 622 years old when he was born and would die 57 years before God would translate Enoch but he must of impacted the life of Enoch with his tales of the Garden of Eden and how he walked with God then.
As I read all of this I considered how it was that God revealed the relationship that He desired through the horse. In order to work with the horse it must first be willing to place itself under my authority; it must submit to me and that is the same thing that God asks each of us. We must be willing to forsake all and follow Him. Christ goes on to say that he who does not forsake all is not worthy of Him, but just like I don't immediately give up on a stubborn horse, He does not and has not given up on us. He knew that many would reject Him but He still sacrificed His life for them. He knew that only one leper would return and thank Him but He still healed all ten and He knew that the multitudes who He fed would follow Him simply because He provided them with food but He still had compassion on them.
In the book of Acts we read the condition of the early church and the reputation that they had; not simply within the church but with all men. I am sure that when Peter told the lame man to rise up and walk he had absolute confidence in the church coming along side of this man and ensuring that he would be able to make a living. They knew the needs of the people within the church because they went house to house daily. I am also certain that we do not have a relationship with Christ if we do not have the same love for others. If we are more concerned about our own well being than that of others I firmly believe that we are in disobedience to God. It is no different than me expecting the horse that I am working with to anticipate my desires. If they do not respond I keep repeating the lesson until they do.
The only difference between them and us is that 9 times out of ten they will get it right and we can go on to the next lesson or receive a treat. We on the other hand can't seem to grasp the idea.
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