Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: FAITHFULNESS (10/07/21)
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TITLE: Agape Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robert Rutaagi
10/14/21 -
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For The Trinity to declare: ‘’Let’s make man in our own image,’’ there must have been a very important reason, after weighing all available options. They did not say: ‘’Let us make another planet, mountain or river…’’ Man was made to be a lovable and loving replica. So man was created and installed in the garden of Eden. Gen.1:26; 2:7-25; 3:1-24.
Regrettably, the Eden Project soon became problematic. God was disappointed. Man was expelled, the garden put under lock and key and a sword-wielding team of Angels guarded it against any trespassers. Could have the Eden idea failed because Adam, Eve and Eden were all merely created? Did the garden tilling, without labour around to hire, or market for the produce soon became not only tiresome but also boring for the couple? Were God’s periodic short visits not enough and only whetted the duo’s appetite for more fellowships with other people?
The cunning snake must have exploited these gaps to suggest that disobeying God, would open new social and knowledge opportunities. Little did they know that they would, instead, plunge themselves into total alienation with God – SIN, with consequences.
After man sinned, God kept checking on, loving and blessing him and his descendants. Cain, despite murdering his brother, Abel, was blessed with children and protected against his enemies. Abraham, was blessed with wealth, long life and many descendants.
In His covenant with man, God’s option to address human sin, that alienated Creator from Createe, was to introduce sacrifices to expiate sin and bring about lasting reconciliation. The Old Testament teems with numerous examples of these sacrifices which were too cumbersome to administer.
Abraham, one of the descendants of Adam, is, probably, the most celebrated biblical champion who absolutely loved, trusted and obeyed God. When God called him to leave his country and go to another, he went. When God told him that he would be a father of many nations, he believed despite his and wife Sarah’s advanced age. When God told him that he would soon have a son, he believed, the little doubtful laugh, in his heart, prompted by age, notwithstanding. For that obedience, he was credited with righteousness. Gen. 15:6.
At the climax of Abraham and Sarah’s joy of the promised son – Isaac, God tested his faith, love, trust… and obedience.
‘’Abraham!’’ God called him one day.
‘’Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’’ Gen. 22:2. Abraham did just that. And when he did, God dispatched a message to him, through His Angel, saying:
‘’Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’’ Gen.22:12. I swear by myself…I will surely bless you…your descendants… as numerous as stars…sand on seashore…possessions of the cities of your enemies…all nations of the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me. Gen. 22:15-18.
But Abraham’s exemplary faith and expiation of animal or human (had Isaac been sacrificed!) blood did not provide enough ‘’technical assistance’’ to entirely eliminate Adamic sin. Abraham, occasionally, fell into sin. For example, he lied (twice) about Sarah to be his sister instead of a wife and doubted God when He promised him a son and father-hood of many nations. Later, Jacob, his descendant, cheated his brother, Esau, cheated his father in-law, Laban and also, like Abraham did, he told lies about his wife.
Throughout the Old Testament, sin kept on growing between Israelites in Egypt, during the exodus, in the desert up to Canaan under Moses, Aaron and Joshua and did not reform even after inheriting Canaan.
The Israelites were so sinful that no amount of animal blood sacrifice could reconcile them with God. And yet His Omni (loving, forgiving, providing, graceful…) nature correspondingly matched and balanced His Omni (potent, scient, present) nature.
When God exhausted all the heavenly and earthly resources, trying to redeem and reconcile with man, He resorted to His only sinless Son to become the needed perfect and eternal sacrifice given once only for all men. The Eden to Calvary journey, characterized by animal and human blood sacrifices, was the epitome and embodiment of God’s divine plan for our eternal salvation. How awesome! Glory to God! John 3:3; 3:16. Heb. 9:11-16; 1 John 5:5; Rom. 10:8-13.
Spiritual, with Personal Analysis. Scriptures from the Bible [NIV].
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Although well written there are too many focal points which makes it less memorable.
However, it is a good Bibles study piece.
Blessings and Keep Writing.