HOW FAR WE HAVE FALLEN FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN....

It is hard these days to look around at the state of the world and not feel sickened by what we have become as mankind at times. The absolutely evil and inhuman attacks perpetrated by Hamas upon Israel are beyond despicable. There can be no rationale or reasoning to project this being just or necessary. To do so frankly spits in the face of Life Itself. It seems like all my life I have watched the utter hatred and division that exists between Judaism and Islam. We can go all the way back to Abraham and see the division as it spawned from the birth of Ishmael and Issac. The disfunction and dislike between Sarah and Hagar. The sad truth is that WE are a fallen people. All of the things that God had created in the Garden for man to enjoy and thrive in were lost because MAN wanted to be equal to God in Wisdom and Knowledge. Having the Power to self rule and live by one’s own will. TO WHAT END ? Rejected and removed from a perfect relationship with God, man moved forward into ever increasing sadness, and society after society where evil and discord became stronger and stronger. To places where hatred grew so strong that murder and genocide could be actually reasoned in the minds of men ! IT IS A SICKNESS THAT ENGULFS US SEEMINGLY ALWAYS…. I weep for the loss of life in Israel, and also for the life of innocent bloodshed in Palestine. People caught up in the bloodlust of Terrorism and the resulting response to ERADICATE IT ! IT MUST BE ERADICATED ! Prophecy biblically tells us much of the story that lies ahead, and it does not paint a pretty picture. Death and pain and suffering are surely upon the world, sadly, as they have been throughout time. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and all of the Prophets were given a clear picture of what we face in the times ahead. There are some who blame God for all that is going on, and wonder “How could a loving God let these things happen ?” I find that reasoning not only absurd, but a clear explanation for precisely what happens when a world rejects God and people REMOVE GOD from their very Hearts and Lives. The evil we are witnessing is perpetrated by a Fallen Mankind. GOD GIVES US FREE WILL, and clearly that results in the opening that EVIL will rush through and exploit.

BUT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU SHALL NOT EAT, FOR IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE. Genesis2:17

NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OTHER BEAST OF THE FIELD THAT THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, “DID GOD ACTUALLY SAY , ‘YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN ?” Genesis 3:1

BUT THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN, “YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE”. Genesis 3:4

BY THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE YOU SHALL EAT BREAD TILL YOU RETURN TO THE GROUND, FOR OUT OF IT YOU WERE TAKEN; FOR YOU ARE DUST, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN. Genesis 3:19

IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS, YOU KNOW THAT OUR HOPE LIES IN HIM. HIS NAME, HIS BLOOD, AND HIS GIFT OF SALVATION AND LIFE TO US ! Evil will constantly do its’ best to convince us that this is not true. Men will turn on each other and relentlessly hurt each other because that same serpent still operates on earth at this time, and continually seeks to lie, divide, and destroy us as God’s Creation. OUR SALVATION AND FUTURE IS IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM; HE PROVIDES OUR HOPE AND FUTURE. Jesus came to us in a time when the tyranny and barbaric ways of the Roman Empire were on full display. Savagery, Brutality, Division, and Hatred were on full display…..and yet, JESUS BROUGHT A NEW HOPE AND PATH TO RETURN TO THE FATHER ! Through His death and resurrection, we have the gift of GRACE AND ETERNAL LIFE ! The message in this is that Our Hope and Life do not find peace and righteousness in where we are today. The world is still Fallen and full of Evil. It should not shock us when men act as animals and are consumed with anger and hate in reaction to their own self will and beliefs. WE MUST FOCUS ON GOD, AND HIS PLAN FOR OUR REDEMPTION THAT COMES ONLY THROUGH JESUS. Jesus is the only central figure in all the religions of the world that is ALIVE AND ACTIVELY IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE WHO KNOW HIM AS THEIR LORD ! In all our struggles, His Spirit is with us to guide us, comfort us, and show us our true path and purpose. SEEK HIM. Immerse yourself in His Love and Truth, and You Will Find Endurance, Peace, and Rest.

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 John 1:9

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Romans 6:23

AND PETER SAID TO THEM, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Acts 2:38

AND THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED. Acts 4:12

On and On, men, leaders, and governments toil to find answers and solutions to the division and chaos that entered our world in the Garden Of Eden, when Mankind lost our True Relationship with God. History shows a long and bloody trail of hatred and evil that continues to Curse Us each and every day. THIS is what makes it so imperative to embrace Jesus as your Lord, Savior, and King. In Him, we are secure in Our Future. Only The Father knows what lies ahead in our lives, and only The Father knows His Plan for these times we are living in. TRUST IN HIM and avoid letting fear and trepidation rule your emotions, mind, and Heart. God loves ALL MANKIND, and HIS WILL AND TRUTH WILL PREVAIL. We must all pray for this, and trust that come what may, our Faith and Hope is in Christ. Let anger and fear be replaced with Hope and Peace. It must be clear to all of us, no matter where we live, no matter our cultures, beliefs, and frustrations that THERE IS NO PLACE FOR EVIL AND LIES. We must guard ourselves from Evil and never allow it to sit in our midst and rule over us. Ever. My prayers are for Resolution for all involved in this terrible conflict, and for Evil to be Defeated and replaced with the Hope and Path that God has created before the beginning of time. PLACE YOUR TRUST IN HIM !

REJOICE IN HOPE, BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATION, BE CONSTANT IN PRAYER. Romans 12:12

BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ! ACCORDING TO HIS GREAT MERCY, HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD. 1 Peter 1:3

HE WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH SHALL BE NO MORE, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE MOURNING , NOR CRYING, NOR PAIN ANYMORE FOR THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. Revelation 21:4

It is time to put our Trust In God….May You feel His Presence And Love. TRUST IN HIM/JAA