Forbidden

Here at our website, we gave you several acceptable links to follow--each leading to the promised destination. However, we set one link forward for you not to enter. We put up warning signs. We named the link, "Do Not Enter!" Yet, you chose to willfully disobey our request.

This reminds me of another situation. One that happened in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were given the fullness of life with God. They were given all of the garden. However, they willfully disobeyed God's one instruction. From that time on sin entered the world. Have you ever been told that you have your father's eyes, or your mother's nose? In the same way physical features are passed down to us by our parents, so was sin passed down to you by your original parents, Adam and Eve. You had no choice. You were born in sin because of their failure to obey.

Enter Jesus Christ. As sin and death entered the world through one man (Adam), so eternal life entered through another. That man, Jesus Christ, was God in the flesh.

A story is told about a man who witnessed two birds mistakenly fly into his large living room picture window. The birds hit with a thump and immediately fell to the ground, stunned. The man wanted to help the poor creatures, so he went outside to gather them up and mend their wounds. There was only one problem though. The birds were terrified of this man. They scattered to get away. He chased them. They scattered more. Finally, out of mere exhaustion from chasing the birds he most wanted to help, he cried out, "If only I could become a bird and communicate to them that I mean them no harm. I just want to help them."

So it is with God. Philippians 2:5-6 says "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped..." God knew that no one would ever make their way back to Him. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They didn't come running to God after they had sinned. They hid. However, God came looking for them, calling out, "Adam, Adam, where are you?"

So Jesus, here to tell us that God wanted to save us, gave up his life--taking the full punishment of God's wrath at sin. God's wrath needed to be dealt out on sin. A Holy God could never excuse it. That would make Him less than Holy. Less than perfect. So when Adam and Eve disobeyed, leaving the sinful nature to you, they also put you in a place where you become an object of the wrath of God. Jesus offers to substitute His death on the cross for your punishment. Let's put it this way: your sin needs to be punished. Either you will take it, or you can let Jesus take it.

Consider that, my disobedient friend. Jesus now only needs your word to step in and credit you with His death and His life eternal. Will you decide? Please let us know your comments. Send e-mail to youth@southharborcreek.org.