As I have been reading in Genesis lately I have noticed something that I never did before: when Adam and Eve sinned they weren't afraid because they had broken their covenant with God. They were afraid because they were naked.
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Genesis 3:1-7 New Living Translation (emphasis mine)
Even when God Himself showed up for His regular walk with them they STILL were distracted by the wrong thing.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
Genesis 3:8-10 New Living Translation (emphasis mine)
They totally didn't get the point. It is pretty clear that we're no different today - we're blaming ourselves for things like "Global Warming" when what we're really guilty of is worshiping something other than the one, true God. In the religion of secular humanism, that god is man.
Another thing that I have learned in my recent reading is that sin has a predictable life cycle in a society. From the time that sin takes root in the society to the point that it bears its full fruit of death can take hundreds of years, but, just as surely as a dropped object will fall earthward, sin will bear that fruit if repentance does not come.
In Genesis 15:16 it says:
"After four generations your (Abraham's) descendants will return here to this land,
when the sin of the Amorites has run its course. (emphasis mine)
I frankly believe that all of this talk about "Global Warming" is hogwash. However, if any of their data proves true, I believe that we are merely witnessing the ripening of the fruit of our sin - not the fruit of driving to work.
The enemy loves to distract us from the true issue. It has been happening since our forefather Adam and it continues today. If the enemy can get us to feel shame for something other than our sin then he can prevent us from taking the antidote to that sin - repentance. Humble repentance before God can undo much sin.
13 At times I (God) might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NLT
Notice that the onus is on God's people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. Sadly, we are the ones who stand in need of repentance all too often. How wonderful that God has made a way for us to be made right with Him.
Let's not be distracted by the enemy's misdirection. Let us recognize our sin for what it is and humbly turn away from it so that our land may know the goodness of God.
