“Wandering Lamb… Faithful Shepherd”

     Even before sin entered the human equation, one could see the characteristics that would make Adam susceptible to temptation.

    “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.  She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23). 

 

     Note the conspicuous absence of gratitude to God in Adam for so great a gift as Eve.  No thanksgiving or praise is recorded, and no Godward acknowledgement of any kind.  Instead, “my… my” becomes the focus, even to the point that Adam emphasizes his involvement in Eve’s origin – “she was taken out of man.” 

    After he sinned by directly disobeying the commandment of God, self-exaltation and ingratitude became the dominant sensibility in Adam and all his subsequent progeny.  Left to itself, humanity would possess no thought or consideration of the One who originated our being, sustains it, and gives to us “life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25).  We are innately blind to the great fact of our existence, and thus require proactive works of illumination by God to open our darkened eyes.  “There is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:11). 

     Thankfully, our Heavenly Father loves us with an unwavering devotion despite our chosen waywardness.  He reveals Himself in the world, in His Word, and in our hearts by the working of the Holy Spirit sent to illuminate us to the One in whom we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  In those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God works to educate us, remind us, and open our eyes to that which should be obvious to all, but is not. 

     In my own heart and life, I find that despite the fact of how much I preach, teach, write, read and converse with other believers, much of my experience still belies a neglect of God and His loving involvement in my life.  How much I miss by my dullness and failure to acknowledge the great fact of my existence!  Even more, however, how faithful our Good Shepherd is to His frequently wandering lamb!  Perhaps you feel the same way.  If so, let us take this moment together to open our hearts and eyes to reality, the reality of the God who saturates our existence despite our too frequent ignorance and ingratitude.

“Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD.”

(Psalm 118:19)