Scripture References: Genesis 3

The Beginning of Grace

The grace of God began in the heart of God. The Lord looked upon this man He had made, a man rebellious, a man who had rather follow the seductive whisperings of the serpent than to heed the word of life. What should God have done in that terrible day of transgression? Surely, not love the transgressor all the more!

The man refused to say: “God shall be my all in all. His Word shall be my light and my life. I will obey His voice. I will walk in His commandments.” No! The man God made rebelled and said: “I will not obey. I will not walk in the way. God said not to touch this thing, but I will touch it. He said not to eat from it, but I will eat from it.” In a rebellious spirit he transgressed God’s commandment.

Now, what should God have done? As I reread the story, the thought comes to my heart, why didn’t God destroy him? Why didn’t God annihilate him? Why didn’t God then and there crush him into the dust of the earth; pour him back into that ground out of which he was made?

That same thought comes with overwhelming force as I view the world scene today. All flesh seems to exhibit the same spirit of rebellion and transgression. Men following the counsels of Satan bring upon the world a misery and despair that cry in agony unto heaven. Why doesn’t God reach down out of heaven and destroy the warmongers? Why doesn’t God eradicate communism? Why doesn’t God hurl down out of His heaven those thunderbolts that would subvert the agitators who are ruining the hopes and dreams for the peace of the world? Why do wicked men still live in the presence of the Almighty who Sovereignly rules heaven and earth?

I read the story of one of a series of memorial services held for our brave young men who were killed across the waters in World War II, the body of one of our finest Christian boys lay on the cemetery green, ready for reburial, as his dear father and mother and little sister sat near by, sobbing their hearts out. Someone expressed the thought, “O God, what of this needless sacrifice? O God, why don’t you reach down and take out of this world, all the wicked people who cause such tears and anguish and heartache?” I think the same thing here when I read of the first transgression. “Lord God, why didn’t You stretch forth Your hand and destroy that first sinning couple for disobeying Your commandment and refusing to walk in Your way?”

But no! For the first time the heart of God is revealed, and the occasion of that revelation is the sin and transgression of our first parents. The reason God did not destroy them is that He is a God of mercy, of kindness, of love; not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Since that time we have known God as the mighty Creator. Until we come to the third chapter of Genesis, the Lord God is revealed as one of might, one of great creative power. In the third chapter of the book we see a new Lord and a new God. He is the Lord of mercy, of love, of forgiveness. He is the God of grace.

God is more than creative power, infinite authority, and potential judgment. He is all that, but He is more. God has a heart, and that heart goes out in love and kindness for the man He has made. He loved man before He created Him despite the knowledge of man’s rebellion. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.” – Genesis 2:7. That was power. “The Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ ” That was grace—the seeking God, the shepherd heart, the father who waits and prays for the prodigal! No one can say what God sees in the lost sinner nor how much He loves him. Eternity alone will reveal it. But we know that, to God, one lost soul is worth every drop of blood on Calvary, every tear and grief of the Savior’s life. Would God have sent His Son to redeem the material world? A universe? A thousand universes? No, we think not. But He did send His Son to die for you and me that we might be redeemed from our sins. Oh, the depth of the love and grace and mercy of God!

Marvelous grace of our living Lord,
     Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
     There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that is greater than all our sin.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.