Thursday: The Restoration of Relationship With God
“Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker.”–Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 7.
Image © Janet Hyun from GoodSalt.com
After the Fall, however, that close relationship was radically altered in many ways.
Read Genesis 3:24, Exodus 33:20, and Deuteronomy 5:24-26. What did sin do to the close relationship that existed between humanity and God?
Sin had broken the relationship between God and humanity. God sent the couple away from His presence for their own protection. Humans could no longer see God’s face and live.
The Lord, though, of His own initiative, brought in the plan of salvation, through which the broken relationship could be healed, even at a terrible cost to Himself.
Read John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:3-5. What promise did Jesus extend to His disciples just before He went to the cross, and what will be the result?
God and humanity are to be reunited, at peace, and meeting face-to-face. The earth will be without any curse, and all that has been lost will be restored. The redeemed will be given a new environment, a new life, a new dominion, a new peace with the rest of the creation, and a new relationship with God. The original purpose behind the creation of humans will now be fulfilled. God, the human race, and the creation will be in harmony, and that harmony will last forever.
Even now, before the recreation of heaven and earth, how can we learn to enjoy a close communion with God? What choices do we make that impact our relationship with God, either in positive or negative ways?
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What a wonderful reunion in heaven when we see Jesus and God face to face. When we look upon His face the one who saves us by His grace. Immortal, incorruptible, and undefiled human will once again be able to communicate face to face with God our Creator. We will be able to ask Him all the questions that perplex us from time to time and to worship Him for all eternity. What a day, oh what a day that will be.
I look forward to the day when I will behold my Savior face to face. It is exciting to know that heaven will be populated by those whom we share the gospel of salvation with. The fact that there will be no starless crown in heaven is a sobering reminder that if I am not actively on the battle field planting the seed of salvation, my Christianity is fake. I pray that as Christians we will realize that our number one purpose on earth is to be co workers with Christ in the restoration of the relationship with humanity and and God.
Thanks Natalie! You are truly spot on with your comments. Indeed if we listen closely we can hear the footsteps of an approaching God. Will He find us ready?
QUESTION: "God sent the couple away from His presence FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION." please can someone throw more light regarding the above statement?
They were sinners Riga. We cannot fully understand this except as we read of sinners who were approached by God's glory and their reactions to it. Only if we could view that glory now could we understand it's "terror" for the sinner. After what God has done for sinners through His only begotten Son, we should trust fully that God did what was best for the fallen pair.
Even God's voice made them afraid after that seemingly small sin. However the implications of what led to that "small sin" are huge. They chose self over the law of God; finite mortals who depended on God for everything including their very lives and every breath. This usurping of God's authority ushered in changes that we can't fully understand, but that God is aware of in ways we can't begin to imagine. God is worthy of our perfect trust.
The greatest of all things that God has provided to us is that we are restored back to Him through Jesus, though we have been lost for centuries here time has come for us to be found for eternity.
Riga i believe God sent the couple away for their own protection because of what God looked like. Exo.33:20 states But He said, you cannot see my face, for no man shall see, and live. Deut.5:24-26 states: Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice from the mist of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore then we shall die. For who is there of flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the mist of fire,as we have and lived. Once man sinned they could no longer see God in all His glory and live, that is why Adam and Eve were protected. Read also Ezekiel 1:25-28 where it gives a vivid picture of what Our God looks like. I hope this will help you see the wonderful God we serve that even when we disobey His word He is still looking out for our safety.
Michelle and Nathalie, thank you for what you shared!! I am so thankful that what Jesus did was for me!! That I have hope of being there!! I am so thankful for what He has done!! I will praise Him throughout eternity. I also pray that my gratitude will begin here, and that my heart and thoughts will be so united with Him that I will do the work He gives me. My part may be small, but there are still those lives that I touch. I pray that my life will be for Jesus and others that I will find along life's pathway!
Brethren, the die has been cast. Its for me and you to to choose our destiny.
Knowing the hope that we have, we should never give up. Everyday of our lives, covering ourselves with the words of beauty of Jesus, because of Him we will live again.
Only war veteran will be in heaven who have fought a good fight.Our Heaven is our finishing line, our ultimate price where the God of all ages will be there. I want to go and see Him. He shall wipe away all our tears,no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more crying, but beholding beauty of our God and be with Him eternally.
Friends do you want to miss heaven? Are we not tired of being here alone?
He is able to take us if we follow and believe in Him by Faith.
Brother Mweemba thank you for
your immortal remarks. They've
made me shed tears!!! Its our prayer that we go to heaven, we cant afford to sacrifice our time for nothing if don't want go there. Friends for sure die is cast!
Thank you all for your inspiring words. I pray that all of us will be ready when Jesus comes!
Tears Wiped Away
We all have tears to shed caused by death and suffering. Those who have returned home from the babylonian captivity have experienced that their teares have been wiped away by God as they arrived home. Isaiah was looking even beyond this situation visualizing the ultimate fulfilment when death is no more (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 15:54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17;Revelation 5:13). What a restoration and new creation when the graves are opened and eternal reunion is celebrated and God is wiping away all our tears.
Winfried Stolpmann
Riga God sent them away lest they took in the tree of life and live forever in a fallen condition, so that was the reason.
Now brethren.we can not continue to play the blame game by blaming Adam and Eve for our predicaments. Our sufferings, Jesus took upon himself our sins and suffered on our instead, he lived a life that we most emulate, he took a path that we should thread to overcome the devil. He suffered death so that we can be saved. He did all that he could for us to be reconciled with God. We do not have an excuse. It is now up to us to follow Jesus footsteps and have everlasting life as He has promised.
The best comfort in this life is having a close relationship with God. Our relationship with God won't ever be directly as long as our relationship with others isn't right.