PURSUED: “The Search Begins”
Genesis 3:8-9, “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the Lord God among the trees.9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
KEY THOUGHT: SIN MADE HUMANITY HIDE, BUT GRACE MADE GOD SEEK.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU MAY HAVE SPENT YOUR LIFE RUNNING FROM GOD, BUT YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED A MOMENT WHEN GOD STOPPED PURSUING YOU.
Genesis 1: GOD CREATES
Genesis 2: GOD BLESSES. GOD PROVIDES
Genesis 3: THE DEVIL MAKES US QUESTION: GOD’S CREATION, GOD’S BLESSINGS, AND GOD’S PROVISION.
1. SIN MAKES US HIDE
Genesis 3:6-8, “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”
*SIN DOESN’T JUST CHANGE WHAT YOU DO. SIN CHANGES HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF.
CONVICTION SAYS: “I DID SOMETHING WRONG.”
SHAME SAYS, “I AM SOMETHING WRONG.”
TRUTH: THE VERY PERSON WHO CAN HEAL WHAT WE’VE BROKEN BECOMES THE VERY PERSON WE’RE AFRAID TO APPROACH.
**YOUR SIN CAN DISRUPT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT IT CANNOT MAKE GOD STOP LOVING YOU.
2. GOD COMES LOOKING
Genesis 3:9, “9Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
TRUTH: “WHERE ARE YOU?” ISN’T A LOCATION QUESTION. IT’S A RELATIONSHIP QUESTION.
Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
GRACE: GOD MOVING TOWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING AWAY FROM HIM.
3. GOD COVERS WHAT WE CANNOT
Genesis 3:21, “And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.”
RELIGION SAYS: “COVER YOURSELF.”
GRACE SAYS: “LET GOD COVER YOU.”
Isaiah 61:10, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.”
Galatians 3:27, “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
Revelation 7:14, “And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.”
Genesis: Begins with God clothing guilty humanity.
Revelation: Ends with redeemed humanity clothed in righteousness.
4. THE SEARCH WILL END AT HOME
Revelation 21:3-4, “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 22:1-3, “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.”
**THE BIBLE BEGINS WITH HUMANITY HIDING FROM GOD IN A GARDEN AND ENDS WITH HUMANITY LIVING WITH GOD IN A RESTORED GARDEN.
THE FULL BIBLE IN ONE SENTENCE:
“THE BIBLE IS THE STORY OF GOD PURSUING PEOPLE WHO KEEP RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM UNTIL ONE DAY HE BRINGS THEM HOME.”
WHAT DO I DO?
STOP HIDING
STOP COVERING
START RESPONDING
REMEMBER YOU ARE PURSUED
