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Relationship With God
Week of 02/20/06
"Why do I at times feel distant from God?"
Adam was the first person created. He must have felt a harmonious connectedness to his environment and an intimate connectedness to God. The Garden of Eden was a true paradise, a safe place to exist. There was no war, famine, natural catastrophes, or sin. But Adam felt not only safe and at peace with God but also at peace with himself. Adam was confident of his place in the universe. God gave Adam everything he needed: work to do, a close relationship with his Creator, everything he needed to take care of himself.
God gave Adam and Eve responsibility over everything else he had made and allowed them unlimited access to the fruit of the tree of life in the center of the Garden. Life was very good for Adam and Eve. They were safe and deeply satisfied in their relationships with God and each other.
There was only one catch. God told them not to eat any fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But the deceiver convinced them otherwise. He told them that if they ate the fruit from the tree, they would be like God. Wanting the same wisdom and power as God, Adam and Eve chose to disregard God's instructions and they stopped depending upon him. It made sense to them that if they became like God and something happened to either of them, they could just create another clone. They'd never be alone and they'd have great power. But…
The next time God came walking in the Garden to spend time with them, Adam and Eve hid from him because they were ashamed and afraid of the consequences of their actions. When God questioned them, Adam pointed the finger at Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Neither was willing to take responsibility.
Adam and Eve's choice changed everything. Gone was the harmonious relationship they had enjoyed with God. Gone was the satisfying relationship with each other. Their relationships were shattered. And as a result we have been struggling with shattered relationships ever since.
Who is responsible for the distance we sometimes feel toward God?
And what role does Christ fill to bridge the gap between man and God?
What do you need to do today?
The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:25
© Copyright 2006 Smalley Relationship Center
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