Introduction: we were created to be connected with God
The Old Testament starts with the creation account. God creates the earth and all plants and creatures in it. The purpose for the all previous days of creation is evident when we come to the end of the sixth day.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
All what was created before was made for us humans in mind. People are given a task to work and keep the garden of Eden. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15) The story of creation in Genesis speaks a lot about how we were created to be connected. We were given dominion over the earth, creatures and plant life. God had our well being in mind when He created farm animals for instance.
First, the task that was given is essentially gardening work. A proper gardener can’t just plant a seed during spring and forget the plant for all summer and then expect it to bear fruit by autumn. The gardener has to have understanding about the upkeep of specific plant in question. And not only just that one plant, like an apple tree but about the whole ecosystem of his garden. All life is deeply interconnected and thus the gardener needs to be connected with it in order to succeed. Sometimes he or she also has to cut away bad or even good branches so that the best branches can bear fruit. This requires discernment to do.
Second, we were created to be connected to each other, male and female he created them. We are made like interlocking puzzle pieces. Eve was created from the Adam’s side or rib, which indicates that she was equal in value. Man and woman were created to work side by side.
Lastly, we were created to be God’s Image and thus we were created to be connected to God. God’s plan with creation was to have a space to have fellowship with us. Our purpose is to be connected with God. It is in our nature as the image bearers, because our God is triune. The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit all are connected with each other. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, And that’s why our nature is deeply rooted in connectivity.
We can observe that there some level of disconnect between what I just drew from creation story and what we can see around us. The snake lured Adam and Eve into sin when they ate from the one tree God said they are forbidden to eat from. As sin got the hold of us, our selfishness disconnects us from other people, ourselves, the rest of creation and God.
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24
In hopes of learning discernment between good and evil, the skill to self-regulation was lost. Cain and Abel both bring offerings to God but only Abel brought a proper sacrifice. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7) Afterwards we witness Cain murdering Abel. He silenced God’s voice which would have aided him to truly discern between good and evil.
Because God is holy and man became unholy we were separated from God. However before we were exiled from Eden God gave us a first hint of His plan for our redemption. God says to the snake: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
Reconnect with God
Okay, we were previously connected with God and now we notice that being disconnected from Him isn’t great. Abel had a right idea bringing a proper sacrifice for the lord. The proper sacrifice was a firstborn from his flock of sheep. We can’t approach God just as we please as we learn from Cain and Abel. So how do we reconnect?
Throughout the Old Testament the picture of redemption becomes clearer. Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac but God provides a substitute in form of a ram. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Genesis 22:13) This sets a type, which is fulfilled when Jesus, the Son of God sacrifices himself for the forgiveness of sins. As the ram died instead of Isaac, Christ dies in our place. And Isaac being left alive sets a type on how Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1. Corinthians 15:20-22
How to stay connected with God?
But how do we stay connected? Now we are given a fresh start. Through Jesus we are can reconnect with God. And not only with God but we can reconnect with ourselves, each other and the world around us. How can we then stay connected from now on?
Ezekiel 36:25-27
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel was a prophet during the exile meaning his audience was displaced by God due to disobedience. Here he says that God will give us a new heart of flesh and put his Spirit in us. And through the Holy Spirit our perspective becomes clearer.
Let the Holy Spirit align your moral compass
Then our moral compass is align with the Word of God. Have you ever gotten a different heading from your compass than somebody else? Most likely one of you were doing something which interfered with the needle. Being close piece of metal for instance. The Bible is full of examples what could cause our moral compass to lead us towards the wrong path. Even a slight change in orientation from the starting point can mean missing the end point by a long shot.
Let the Holy Spirit align your compass. Then God will work in us. And thus we will become better gardeners, we transform to be more considerate of other people and the whole creation. And also towards ourselves. With the Holy Spirit guiding us we are able to discern what to cut, and nourish in our lives in order for our faith produce fruit. …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)