Sunday, June 6, 2010

In My Garden,

The other day while working in the yard we were covering our newly planted vegetable garden with paper and then grass clippings to keep the weeds down. Some of the grass was dry and easy to work with but some of it was decomposed and pretty slimy. While working with it I started thinking that this slimy stinky stuff is a lot like our world. The whole of creation is in a state of decay in one way or another. Everything we see or use is dying or using decayed matter to grow, for a while, and then to become the decay itself. The whole cycle relies on decay and rot. The circle of Life in this earth is based on death.

While I was thinking of the scripture Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."
Ever since the Garden of Eden the world has been in entropy. Death has been the underlying theme of human existence. We, through Adam and Eve chose death and decay over everlasting life in the immediate presence of God. Ever since and possibly before that point God had a plan to redeem us.
Throughout human history it is estimated by http://www.prb.org/ that 106,456,387,669 people have been born in "human history" though that is admittedly a guesstimate. Of thta 106 trillion people, only 1 was born who was holy. Not born of decay and rot but the First Born of God. Only He was capable and thankfully willing to die to take away our sins.
How totally awesome is our God. He is not like us. He is holiness defined. His nostrils must burn at the stench of our very existence in this world of life through death. I imagine the Prodigal father did not like the way his son smelled when he returned to him smelling of the pigs. And yet he put his cloak and signet ring on that son who had turned away from him and accepted him back into the family. Restored and whole as though it never happened.... wait, that's not true. Restored as though it did happen and all had been forgiven. Maybe that is what bothered the other son so much. He never tested his father, never went against him to find out just how forgiving he could be. I am not advocating rebellion. I am saying that since we have fallen we can know first hand the overwhelming grace and unquenchable love of the Father.

All I can say in closing is thank You Father. Amen

1 comment:

  1. Interesting thoughts. Does having teens encourage thoughts on entropy? Just kidding.

    The two sons of the forgiving father both had issues. Both would appear to be believers, and though one obviously backslides, the other has "heart" issues.
    1.he didn't seem to care that his bro was back.
    2.he was jealous about the party for him
    3.he accused his father of being gracious!

    Hopefully he repented also.God help us to learn from them both. -dan

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