What Really Happened That Day?

The current state of affairs may resemble mayhem to almost borderline anarchy. When the condition of society is without government and law, there is political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control. What can follow is anarchy. Even if there is not a full-blown anarchy, lack of respect and refusal to follow official mandates has the potential to cause similar affects.

 In the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, from the priesthood of Melchizedek to Jesus the High Priest, from prophets, to judges, and kings, the Lord was the governing authority in a theocratic system. God, the King, Lawgiver and Judge was the voice of influence and divine authority. With that, even with God’s chosen men and women in leadership, the environment still seemed to consist of unrestrained chaos, confusion, and disorder. When the leaders did right, the people thrived, but when the leaders were disobedient and idolatrous, the people looked a lot like their leaders and suffered greatly. The people either benefited or lost at the hands of their leader. When a platform is the embodiment of ungodly principles with a pattern of blatant self-centeredness, people tend to operate as if there is no leader at all. “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes”, Judges 21:25. But, how could all of this be if the Lord was considered the governing authority?

In the New Testament, we began to read about Jewish sects and catch a glimpse of the subtle encroachment of separation of church and state. The leaders were Sadducees (priests and wealthy influential people), Pharisees (more common people, traditionalist, religious leaders expecting Torah application in life based on their understanding) and Essenes (self-identified as sole and faithful remnant of Israel, generally shunning marriage). There were also kings, nobles, emperors, etc. etc. My point is that before there were presidents of countries, there were governing authorities that began with Adam in the Garden of Eden, “Then the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it” Genesis 2:15. We all know what happened next. God’s plan for His theocratic system of ruling was perfect and would have remained perfect until Adam disobeyed God. “¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” Genesis 2:16-17.  

I believe that sometimes we forget what really happened on that day. “¹² Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come” Romans 5:12-14. Sin entered the world on that day and has continued. It is perpetual and universal. The evil that is before us today that looks as if it is unchecked should be no surprise. The same enemy that wreaked havoc in the Garden of Eden is the same enemy that is upsetting the world today and attempting the same to your personal peace. Do not let him!

^“12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12.  Our battles are not simply against a physical enemy. Even in the Garden of Eden, evil was brought to Adam at the hands of Eve and its originator the serpent because of Satanic influence.  If Eve had only known what she was about to contribute to… e.g. the state of the world that we are in today. But God…

There is no leader from the past, present or future who will govern in a way that will promote personal or universal peace. Look to the Lord.  As long as we look to leaders for remedies and expect consistent impartial protection and safety from any governing authority, we will continue to be disappointed. After all they are ‘men’. I know… I know… you are not expecting lasting peace here on earth… really? Now search deeply, not even a little bit?

Finally, remember Adam, Eve, the serpent, and satanic forces on that day.  There is sin and death in Adam, but salvation and life in Christ. “17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” Romans 5:17-19.

Be encouraged and marvel not at what we see with our eyes. “Be angry and sin not“, Ephesians 4:26a. Do not forget what actually happened in the Garden. What you see now is clearly evidence of the fall of man. Let’s be the light and salt so the world can see the resurrection of Christ. Make the gospel attractive in the midst of mayhem so there won’t be a total anarchy. God is still in control… try to live righteously and let Him reign. 

The journey flows…