Teachings – Adam in Eden

ADAM IN EDEN

UNFOLDING FOUR

WHERE WE ARE

The grace of God was revealed to Adam when God, in the cool of the day, went for a walk in the garden and called out to Adam. Of course, looking back, we might wonder why God did not equally call out for Eve since she hid with him. Suffice it to say God held Adam accountable. Nevertheless, Adam and Eve were both By choosing to eat, he sinned and became a fool. Given what we know about the Garden of Paradise and all that God did in providing for Adam, the question remains: why? Adam was a fool both in the sense of what he lost in his decision, but also showed his foolishness by believing that he could hide from God! Of course, what Adam did beg us to answer why we refuse the tender mercies and call of God, ‘Sinner, where are you?’ Moreover, how is it that we think that we can hide from God? Do we not know that,

“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Psalms 139:8  

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1: 26-27

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Genesis 3: 8-9 

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”

ADAM IN EDEN
UNFOLDING FOUR

We first come to the title: Adam in Eden. By the title, it appears Pastor focuses specifically on Adam, whom he asks a series of questions but to us allegorically. Pastor Spurgeon says of him (and us):

“Had Adam’s heart been in the right state, he would have made a full confession of his sinfulness. Where art thou?” 

Have you heard that question asked? 

Pastor then speaks of the things that God did for Adam. Then, in light of all of those good things, God asked Adam, “Art thou not today in the camp of My enemy? Art thou not on Satan’s side, defying Me, and lifting up thy puny arm of thy rebellion?”

And yet again the question, ‘Where art thou?’ but asked in such a way to make us to consider how we got where we are. Then the warning,

“If we be sinners there is no excuse for us whatever, and if we live and die so, the guilt shall lie at our own door, but nowhere else.”

Still, God’s grace, mercy and love shines through in this unfolding.

“Alas for thee, alas for thee! It is as if God uttered the words of the prophet, “How can I give thee up? how can I utterly destroy thee? how can I set thee as Admah? how can I set thee Zeboim?” Hosea 11: 8

Finally, Pastor gives a succession of excuses that men make to turn aside the tender mercies and call of God. What were the succession of excuses? 

• Lord, I am in such a place that I cannot do anything for myself.
• Lord, I am in such a place that the law threatens me, and justice frowns upon me. 
• Lord, I am in such a place that I cannot repent as I would.
• Lord, I cannot believe in thee, I cannot believe as I would.
• Lord, but I am in such a state that my prayers can never be acceptable.
• Lord, Thou dost not know what a wretch I am.
• Lord, I have been the chief of sinners; none could have so aggravated their guilt as I have.
• I am an outcast from society.
• Yes, but oh! I have sinned beyond all hope!

It is to the last excuse that the Lord God answers,

“Yes, but I have come to give hope to hopeless sinners.”

And what does the sinner answer to that?

“Ay, but then I deserve to be lost.”

Indeed, man has his many excuses, but all will hear at the end in judgment: 

“Adam, Adam, where art thou? Come thou hither to be judged.” 

Yes, but today,

“You shall not hear that cry; it is mercifully postponed, but you shall hear it soon.” 

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

God asks Adam and us, ‘Where art thou?’ That question begs us to look at our life and present situation. Did the promise of sin give the return promised? What did the fruit of knowledge of good and evil bring Adam and his progeny? Is Adam like god? How do we see ourselves? Whether or not we are Christians, the Bible says we were made in God’s image and are a living soul. Whether or not we are Christians or sinners, the Bible says,

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:25

Thus, God is the heavenly benefactor of all men, and we are the recipients of all good gifts. Here, in this discourse, we have the sobering call made to Adam, and yes, because we are ‘in his loins, and sinners,’ the call is out to us. We too have our excuses, but do you hear your name called? Where are you hiding? No doubt, Adam knew what he had done. How do I know? He hid.

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RHYMES 

The fact that God knows my name.
Called it out?
How great a fool I’d be…
if I blocked my ears…
What next? Pluck out my eyes?
Because I know He sees me?