Darkness Has Come

As we ponder the coming of Jesus this advent season, we remember that only the Messiah could save us from the darkness of sin.

Genesis 3

God desires us to do his will because it is good for us—he knows what is good for his creation.

At the end of chapter 2 in Genesis, we have seen the wonder of God’s creation culminating in the creation of Adam and Eve. Their relationship was one of unity, oneness, and openness. No shame, even in nakedness. A complete trust in their vulnerability.

This trust and vulnerability was also in their relationships with God, where they would walk and talk with him. God made them in his image, and they delighted in one another.

Being made in God’s image, both Adam and Eve had the ability to make the decision to either follow God’s will or not. God desires us to do his will because it is good for us—he knows what is good for his creation. In giving us the choice, we have genuine love for God.

So, Eve and Adam were deceived by the serpent who said by eating the forbidden fruit, they would be like God. Being created in God’s image they were already like God. But Eve reasoned that the fruit was good, pleasing to the eye, and she desired wisdom so she ate and Adam, also being there, decided to eat as well. And darkness came. The relationship was broken. They were ashamed and clothed themselves— their relationship had changed. And they hid from God when he came to the garden so their relationship with him was changed. In the cool of the day as God walked in the garden, He called to Adam, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). An invitation to come out of the darkness into the light in confession. But the blame game is what Adam and then Eve play.

Disobedience to God’s will marked Adam and Eve and continues to mark us. Sin is this rebellion against what God has created us to be according to his will. But in this darkness, there is a light—a picture of someone who would crush the head of the serpent, Satan, John in his first chapter reminds us that a “Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5).

As we ponder the coming of Jesus this advent season, we remember that only the Messiah could save us from the darkness of sin. And we marvel at Jesus’ power, the light who can never be overcome. May Jesus bring hope this Christmas.

God bless.

Pastor Stephen