In what part of God’s creation do you think is most awe inspiring. Answer this quick poll:
Wow- Act III is full of so much. After all, it’s our story in the Larger Story. There is no way to make this “quick thoughts” so I am going to break it into 2 parts:
- Part One: The fall
- Part Two: The rescue
Part one: The Fall
Original Glory
There are only a few short chapters in Genesis prior to the entry of the serpent and our eating of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These few short chapters, even fewer while we (man and woman) were alive, are so often forgotten.
Even more important than the fall is the creation. What were we meant to be when God made Adam and when God made Eve?
Have you ever baked a cake or baked brownies? I’m not that good at backing. Sarah is the queen. But one thing I do know: the outcome of my baking is always at it’s pinnacle right out of the oven. Within a few minutes it’s flattened out, the edges go dark and hard, and it’s just not pretty anymore. My creation is at it’s best right away; even though I can show it off a while later, it’s nothing close to my intention, to the original splendor of my (feeble as it were) attempt at baking.
Although that’s a really bad illustration, I think there is something to be learned from knowing what once was when it comes to experiencing what now is.
God made us in his image:
I daresay we’ve heard a bit about original sin, but not nearly enough about original glory, which comes before sin and is deeper to our nature. We were crowned with glory and honor. Why does a woman long to be beautiful? Why does a man hope to be found brave ? Because we remember, if only faintly, that we were once more than we are now. (page 50)
Behind the Fall
Now that Act II is known, that there was war in heaven and the evil one is cast out, but not completely destroyed, the stage is set to understand the entrance of evil. But what is most important to realize about Satan’s motivation is this: if he cannot destroy God, he will do everything to destroy that which God loves.
You must understand: the Evil One hates God, hates anything that reminds him of the glory of God… wherever it exists. Unable to overthrow the Mighty One, he turned his sights on those who bore his image.
Satan came into the Garden and whispered to Adam and Eve – an in them, to all of us – “You cannot trust the heart of God… he’s holding out on you… you’ve got to take matters under your control.” He sowed the seed of mistrust in our hearts; he tempted us to seize control.
Understand the Evil One’s motivation – the essence behind of the words whispered to Adam and Eve – and you’ll understand the whole battle before us that wages on still.
But there is more… there is rescue.
Thought One: From my own story, and from that of so many I’ve encountered, Act II is one that is so often unknown. The existence of angelic beings, the fall of Lucifer and all his followers, and their place in our story are misunderstood in many circles. If not misunderstood, then ignored. From page 33 of Act II:
This is precisely what the Bible (and all the stories that echo it) has warned us about all these years: we live in two worlds – or in one world with two halves, part that we can see and part that we cannot. We are urged for our own welfare, to act as though the unseen world (the rest of reality) is, in fact, more weighty and more real and more dangerous than the part of reality we can see.
To understand this reality is of critical importance to understanding God’s story and, more importantly, to bring out life, and that of humanity (space and time as we know it) into clear picture. Without understanding Act II, nothing from Genesis 4 and onward can be interpreted with a sense of clarity!
Thought Two:
Satan mounted his rebellion through the power of an idea: God is holding out on us. (page 40)
This is how “evil desire” is evident in my life. If I can an answer this question, I know with certainty a choice I am about to make is one of evil intent, just like Satan’s idea: By making this choice, is the reason rooted in the fact I think God is holding out on me ?
