Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

This only have I found:
    God created mankind upright,
    but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

• Ecclesiastes 7:29

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

• Genesis 3:6-8

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 11:3

“Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
“A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God, (Eccl. 7:29) by eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6-8).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism

“Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
“A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 21. Did man continue in that estate wherein God at first Created him?
“A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, through the temptation of Satan, transgressed the commandment of God, in eating the forbidden fruit, and thereby fell from the estate of innocency wherein they were created.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The wording is a little different in each of these catechism questions, but they say about the same thing.

Adam and Eve, whether referred to as man, meaning mankind, or the first parents ate of the forbidden fruit.  They were given a choice and they failed to obey.

We are born with the sin nature.  It comes naturally to us when a temptation arises that we indulge, whatever that temptation is.  Some sins are so mundane, in human eyes, that the sin itself is considered socially acceptable.  It is sad that we have regressed to that point.

Next week, we will look at what sin is.

And now let us sing.

The song, On the Jericho Road, gives us the answer to the problem caused by man’s state being changed due to man’s disobedience.  This is sung by Jehovah Shalom A Capella.  I know, two weeks in a row.  This may not be as familiar as some of the previous songs and hymns, but it let’s us know that Jesus is there, a personal God, one-on-one.  And with the lyrics below, we can sing along.

As you travel along on the Jericho Road
Does the world seem all wrong and heavy your load
Just bring it to Christ your sins all confess
On the Jericho Road your heart He will bless

On the Jericho Road there’s room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He’ll bear each sorrow He’ll share
There’s never a care for Jesus is there.

Oh, brother, to you this message I bring
Though hope may be gone, He’ll cause you to sing
At Jesus’ command sins shackles must fall
On the Jericho Road you will answer His call.

On the Jericho Road there’s room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He’ll bear each sorrow He’ll share
There’s never a care for Jesus is there.

On the Jericho Road there’s room for just two
No more and no less just Jesus and you
Each burden He’ll bear each sorrow He’ll share
There’s never a care for Jesus is there.
There’s never a care for Jesus is there.

• Don and Marguarete McCrossan, On the Jericho Road

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We have all fallen short and gone our own way.  Sin is one thing that we cannot use a comparative in judging.  Once we have stepped away from Your path, we have fallen short of the goal.  Your Son, Jesus, paid that price so that our sins can be washed away.  There is room on the road that each of us travels for only us and Jesus.  We need to forsake our own earthly desires, take up our cross, and follow You, Lord.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.