Living Lightly
We live in a world in which we are surrounded by violence. Every night the news is filled with frightening acts of violence. Our hearts are saddened when a child is brutalized or killed. Senior citizens are regularly targeted by thugs and robbers. Hateful people cannot get past a person’s skin color or ethnicity. In response to all this violence, we often ask: “When will this world get better? How can we fix these problems?” An important answer is found in understanding that violence also targets truth. God tells us that Satan is behind the scenes moving, working, and plotting much of the evil that is in the world around us. Little do people in today’s world understand that they are pawns in a greater cosmic battle. Satan works feverishly to undermine the truth of God. Often it is easier for people to believe the lies of Satan than the truth of God. Why is this? For us to find that answer, we must go back to the very beginning.
In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis, we read about the “fall of mankind.” In Genesis 3 we read about Satan talking to Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:1-5 says, ”He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to [Satan], "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" "You will not surely die," [Satan] said to the woman.” (NIV) Was Satan right? Did Adam and Eve die after they disobeyed God and ate the fruit? A superficial glance at the story might lead one to think that they did not die. However, the reality is that they did die. The death that took place was a “spiritual death.” While it would take many years for Adam and Eve to taste physical death, they died spiritually the instant they sinned. You do not have to be a Christian to know that people are more than flesh and blood creatures. When God made us, He made us as creatures who are physical and spiritual. We are body, soul, and spirit.
So, what are we saying? When Adam and Eve broke God’s command, they suffered a “brokenness." When man and woman were first created, they were made with the ability to worship and have fellowship with God. After sin burst on the scene, the spiritual dimension of Adam and Eve was damaged. If we were to consider the “spirit” of mankind a flame, we would be safe to say that this flame was extinguished. Adam and Eve still lived on physically, but physical death was guaranteed because they were already dead spiritually. By the way, when we understand that Adam and Eve died spiritually, it makes sense why they would hide from God after they sinned. Before sin, the first couple had sweet fellowship with God. After they sinned, Adam and Eve walked in spiritual darkness.
While our discussion (so far) has a heaviness to it, we can take hope. God was not content to leave Adam and Eve lost in darkness. God had a plan to deal with mankind’s brokenness. Colossians 1:12-13 states, ”Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” (NIV) Through the saving work of Jesus, all mankind has the opportunity to have their extinguished flame rekindled. Join me over the next few weeks as we consider how to “live lightly." We will ponder how we might reclaim our spiritual life and vitality through Jesus and the Gospel. Keep looking up!