“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8
One of the great evidences and proofs of sin in the heart of man is the sentiment, and conviction, of his sinfulness when confronted with the truth of God, and especially by the Spirit of God. From the moment that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, there was a contradiction in their hearts with God, for their nature had changed from being holy, and one with God, to that of being independent, separated from God. Instead of a perfect union, and unity, a conformity with God in all things great and small, in essence a perfect communion with Him, there was a dissonance, an opposition, a difference in perspective, conviction, thought and will. Man had by his sin disassociated himself from God. On that day, he “died” spiritually, and the communion that he had known, with the life of God by the Spirit freely working in him, was not longer to be, that is, unless God alone would make a provision that it should be restored, and man should be born again spiritually.
The result of Adam’s sin was that the whole of mankind from that day forward was plunged into spiritual darkness. And such would be the continuation of that state were it not for the mercy and grace of God, revealed through the Scriptures in the Bible, specifically in the gospels, and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to die on Calvary’s cross for our sins, and the revelation of His Person demonstrated in power by the outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh from Pentecost to this very day. From the moment that Adam sinned, the Lord Jesus, in essence, has been walking in the Garden of history, seeking mankind who has fled from Him. He comes seeking the lost to win, the soul to save, and this by dealing with the guilt and judgment for all sin, effectually cleansing the soul. He comes also with a promise of newness of Life, a message of restoration, of reconciliation with Himself, so that man can receive again His blessed Life by the Spirit. God has done all that He can in His wisdom and love to prove to the lost, wandering sinner, quietly or violently fleeing from the presence of God, that a Way has been provided for lost man, a captive of sin and Satan’s lies. It is a way accomplished by Christ on the cross, so that man might live again in the image of God. The salvation which God supplies is in one Person, one Work, and one Power…that of Christ by His Spirit, for the glory of the Father. To the one who hears God “walking in the garden, in the cool of the day,” who becomes conscious of God’s presence working, moving to save him, the Lord asks the question, as He did so many thousands of years ago: “Where are you?” The Lord doesn’t ask this question for His sake, but for man’s sake. Man must realize that he is as a lost sheep on a faraway mountainside, alone, helpless, and hopeless…UNLESS, by the earnest and diligent effort, commitment, and sacrifice of a Shepherd’s heart, One comes seeking the lost to find, and to win. The words of his “call” ring out through the centuries to our very day, “Where are you?”
The call demands a response, howbeit it ever so small and laden with shame. Adam’s response was: “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid.” To Adam, the Lord asked: “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” To Eve He would ask, “What is this you have done?” The same questions are asked today of all men. In their response lies the gateway, the door to the only remedy for sin and death. That is Christ.
Dear Father, Hear our cry today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.