Scripture References: Genesis 3

The Way of Redemption – Continued

One time a dear friend of mine told me a story of when he was asked to lead a revival meeting at a local church. He gladly accepted the invitation and was a guest in his home for the duration of the campaign. During those days he stated that he learned of a great sorrow that had broken the hearts of the couple he was staying with. Their only son, a boy of thirteen years, became desperately ill of a dreadful disease. The boy suffered untold agonies as his body was torn with convulsions. Then the day came that the boy died. My friend asked the couple, “Didn’t it nearly tear your heart out when the day came for the boy to die?”

“No,” replied his pastor friend. “No, it was not that way at all. Our boy was so sick, suffering so intensely that I went down on my knees by his bed and prayed to God that, if it could be His will, He would not let him suffer any longer. I prayed God to take him to heaven, to let him be released; his suffering was too great. And when our boy died a great burden was lifted from our hearts because of his merciful release.”

It is because of this that death comes to man, and that the tree of life has been removed from our grasp, “lest we eat, and live forever,” live forever in this frail body of pain and sorrow.

There is a way back to God, back to the tree of life, back to the paradise of God our Savior. “He [God] placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” – Genesis 3:24. In every instance where the cherubim are mentioned, they are connected with, and are symbols of, the divine mercy and grace. They are not ministers of vengeance; they are not messengers of judgment. In the holy of holies was the ark of the covenant. On the top of the ark of the covenant was the mercy seat. On each side of the mercy seat were the cherubim, their eyes full upon it, their wings covering it. Between them flamed the Shekinah, the fire of the glory and the presence of God. To that altar came the high priest, with blood of atonement, and there the mercy and forgiveness of the Holy One met the repentance and confession of man.

It was so on the east side of the garden of Eden after the man had been driven out. The man who was rebellious and self-willed in the garden of Eden was invited back, in repentance and faith, to bow, to worship, to come home, to find peace, to seek forgiveness and shelter at the altar of the mercy of God. The cherubim are there, symbols of the divine love and grace. The Shekinah glory is there, the pointed, gleaming flame that keeps open the way to the tree of life. The altar of God is there, the place of prayer and of worship. And God himself is there, ready to receive the humble penitent in mercy and forgiveness.

O my friend, will you not come to Him now?

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and power.

Let the deepest answer of our hearts be,

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms,
In the arms of my dear Saviour,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

It is the gospel of the grace of the Son of God. Here it is in the first part of the first book of the Bible—the “protevangelium,” the first announcement, the first gospel. The grace of God is freely and fully given to all who come to Him with humble and contrite hearts.

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