A Missed Opportunity

Sunday I preached a sermon about making biblical choices.  In that message, I brought up how Adam in the Garden of Eden had the ability and the opportunity to make the correct choice and choose not to eat of the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). Instead, when his wife Eve was tricked by the Devil (Genesis 3:1-6), Adam stood by and did nothing to protect her (notice the "with her" in Genesis 3:6!) from eating the forbidden fruit.

Adam had many options at his disposal to deliver his wife. He could have told Eve and the Devil no (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)!  He could have quoted Scripture (Genesis 2:16-17) to the Devil (like the Lord did when He was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-14). He could have grabbed Eve's arm and ran away as fast as they could. He could have called out the Lord God to help him and the Lord would have since Adam was in perfect fellowship with his Creator.  Instead, Adam missed a grand opportunity to do right and instead chose to rebel against the clear command of God and do his own way (1 Timothy 2:14).  

Adam, as a result of his sin, brought all kinds of pain an suffering to creation with the end being death and natural separation from God (Genesis 3:9-24; Romans 5:12). 

Although Adam missed the opportunity to do right, God still loved Adam and Eve and still made a way for Adam's sin to be forgiven.  God gave Eve in Genesis 3 the first Gospel promise that from her seed would come one who would crush the Serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).  As we learn from other promises from the Old Testament, this Person referred to from Eve's seed was Jesus Christ (Luke 3:23-28; Galatians 4:4).  Through this Promise, the Messiah would suffer for our sins on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-6) and take God's wrath for us (1 John 2:1-2) so we don't have to suffer for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This Messiah would then rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), giving eternal life to all who will call upon Him for His work of redemption on the cross (John 3:16). 

In light of Adam's grand missed opportunity I would like to ask you this question.  Are you missing out on the grand opportunity today to get right with the Lord God who made you?  Adam sinned, so have you. Adam received forgiveness from the Lord (Genesis 3:21) and he and Eve were in fellowship with the Lord when they had their first child (Genesis 4:1).  Adam's sinned was paid for ultimately by Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who took Adam's wrath on the cross.  Your sin also has been paid for by Jesus Christ.  Have you availed yourself of the salvation from sin that is free to all who call upon the Lord?  If not, just repent of your sin and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).  I close with a passage from Romans 10:

Romans 10:8-13  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  11  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."  12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  13  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Pastor Steve

Psalm 119:89