COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
Eden must have been an exquisite garden to gaze upon. Surely, the only thing to surpass its grandeur was the glorious bond found between God and man. It was within this uniqueness that God walked with mankind (Genesis 1:1-3:8). Unfortunately, this existence did not last due to the inappropriate behavior of Adam and Eve. They did the “me thing” and lost that special relationship with God (Genesis 3). Fortunately, He was not a God who would abandon them. Nor is He a God who would abandon us when we sin. Let us all thank God that He continued to love people (Luke 24:44-46; John 19:31-37; Acts 2:14-36, 3:18, 13:27; 1 Peter 1:20-25).
Even though mankind now reaps physical hardship, disease, and death (Genesis 3:14-24), God still desires a close walk with His creation (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:1-2, 8). Yet, don’t forget, that a “personal walk” doesn’t happen by chance or by the exploitation of God’s gracious nature. Those who have this “personal relationship” are truly seeking to “talk the talk and walk the walk”. This is the way God has always desired it (Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 26:3-14; 1 John 1:5-2:6). People must decisively want to have that spiritual “Garden of Eden” relationship with Him (Ephesians 1:1; 1 John 1:7). We should be “on the edge of our seats” eager for His word so we can do what His plan entails us to do. Covenant people were never designed to sit on their rumps as the earth rotates. God wants Christians who are real Christians. Ponder this, in marriage, would a wife want a man who says he loves but doesn’t show love or would a man want a woman who says she respects but doesn’t respect (Ephesians 5:17-33)? So, what makes anyone think God would want a Christian who won’t be Christian (Galatians 5:22-26)? Hmmm?!
Who is this God that expects appropriate behavior from all people? Well, He is the creator God (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 102:25; John 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:10) and the Covenant God (Exodus 3:14-15; Psalm 110:1; Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 8:58; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 8:8-13). Adam and Eve were to tend the Garden, multiply, live in peace, and not eat of the tree in the center of the garden. Israel was to tend to their relationship with God, follow Him, and obeys His Commandments which not only included the Covenant given at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-24; Deuteronomy 5) but, also, the Covenant of Blessings and Curses given at Moab (Deuteronomy 28-30). “These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb [Sinai]” (Deuteronomy 29:1).
Was God cruel by giving His word, His expectations, His teachings, or His truth (Psalm 19:7-10, 119:105; John 14:6; Romans 7:7; Hebrews 4:12)? Was God malicious by giving people many, many opportunities for repentance? Can God finally get fed up with people who refuse and refuse and refuse to listen and repent? You bet (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 23:13-25:46; Acts 28:25-31)! The Minor Prophets, in the Old Testament, are wonderful examples of God’s follow-through with the Covenant of Blessings and Curses. Just because someone refuses to be obedient, like Israel did many times, that doesn’t mean they are not under Covenant. They are just not under the blessing aspect of Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
You might be a little taken back. How can God curse His people? Well, first, they agreed to the Covenant and, second, the purpose of the curses was to bring them to repentance (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). This is a loving God who would not want anyone lost but does allow people to make a choice (Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 19:10). When a person truly follows, with the right kind of heart/attitude/faith that God wants from them, then there will be true blessings of God given to them. The ultimate blessings, of course, are forgiveness, redemption through Christ’s blood, grace, and Heaven (Ephesians 1:3, 7-8). Isn’t this what the apostles taught (Acts 2:14-47; Galatians 5). Isn’t this what the early church knew (Acts 5; Hebrews 10:23-29)? Isn’t this the Gospel of Christ (Matthew 5-7; Romans 6)? Isn’t this the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13)?
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
Even though mankind now reaps physical hardship, disease, and death (Genesis 3:14-24), God still desires a close walk with His creation (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:1-2, 8). Yet, don’t forget, that a “personal walk” doesn’t happen by chance or by the exploitation of God’s gracious nature. Those who have this “personal relationship” are truly seeking to “talk the talk and walk the walk”. This is the way God has always desired it (Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 26:3-14; 1 John 1:5-2:6). People must decisively want to have that spiritual “Garden of Eden” relationship with Him (Ephesians 1:1; 1 John 1:7). We should be “on the edge of our seats” eager for His word so we can do what His plan entails us to do. Covenant people were never designed to sit on their rumps as the earth rotates. God wants Christians who are real Christians. Ponder this, in marriage, would a wife want a man who says he loves but doesn’t show love or would a man want a woman who says she respects but doesn’t respect (Ephesians 5:17-33)? So, what makes anyone think God would want a Christian who won’t be Christian (Galatians 5:22-26)? Hmmm?!
Who is this God that expects appropriate behavior from all people? Well, He is the creator God (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 102:25; John 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:10) and the Covenant God (Exodus 3:14-15; Psalm 110:1; Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 8:58; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 8:8-13). Adam and Eve were to tend the Garden, multiply, live in peace, and not eat of the tree in the center of the garden. Israel was to tend to their relationship with God, follow Him, and obeys His Commandments which not only included the Covenant given at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-24; Deuteronomy 5) but, also, the Covenant of Blessings and Curses given at Moab (Deuteronomy 28-30). “These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb [Sinai]” (Deuteronomy 29:1).
Was God cruel by giving His word, His expectations, His teachings, or His truth (Psalm 19:7-10, 119:105; John 14:6; Romans 7:7; Hebrews 4:12)? Was God malicious by giving people many, many opportunities for repentance? Can God finally get fed up with people who refuse and refuse and refuse to listen and repent? You bet (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 23:13-25:46; Acts 28:25-31)! The Minor Prophets, in the Old Testament, are wonderful examples of God’s follow-through with the Covenant of Blessings and Curses. Just because someone refuses to be obedient, like Israel did many times, that doesn’t mean they are not under Covenant. They are just not under the blessing aspect of Covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
You might be a little taken back. How can God curse His people? Well, first, they agreed to the Covenant and, second, the purpose of the curses was to bring them to repentance (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). This is a loving God who would not want anyone lost but does allow people to make a choice (Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 19:10). When a person truly follows, with the right kind of heart/attitude/faith that God wants from them, then there will be true blessings of God given to them. The ultimate blessings, of course, are forgiveness, redemption through Christ’s blood, grace, and Heaven (Ephesians 1:3, 7-8). Isn’t this what the apostles taught (Acts 2:14-47; Galatians 5). Isn’t this what the early church knew (Acts 5; Hebrews 10:23-29)? Isn’t this the Gospel of Christ (Matthew 5-7; Romans 6)? Isn’t this the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13)?
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves