“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion” (Genesis 1:26, ASV).
We cannot talk about the birth of Jesus without discussing the need for Jesus to come to the earth to begin with. Let’s go all the way back to the beginning and find out how our need for Redemption came about in the first place. We know God didn’t create us with that need. In fact, Genesis tells us again and again that everything God created on the earth was good. He created the land and the water and “it was good” (Genesis 1:10). He created all vegetation and “it was good” (verse 12). He created the sun, moon and stars; He created the animals and every other living thing and saw that they were good (verse 25).
Once all that was done, God made the body of man from the dust of the earth and breathed His own life into him (Genesis 2:7). At that moment, man became a living soul. God Himself empowered Adam (and later, Adam’s wife, Eve) to bring blessing and prosperity to the whole earth. And when it was all finished, the Bible says, “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Those truly were the good old days.
It was so simple to live in God’s blessing. Adam and Eve were free to enjoy God’s good creation, enjoying nothing but sweetness and light forever—on one condition: They were to keep God’s command. Everything depended on that. Sadly, they made the wrong choice. They disobeyed…and the light of God’s glory that once radiated from them was snuffed out by the spiritual darkness of sin. Satan, whom they had obeyed, became their overlord. His deadly nature invaded their spirits, and everything beautiful God had breathed into Adam and Eve was instantly twisted and marred.
The Anointing of God that had once empowered them to bless the earth was transformed into a touch of death that cursed the entire planet. And, because God had ordained that every seed produce after its own kind, Adam and Eve were destined to reproduce children infected by the curse of sin. So, the more they multiplied, the more the effects of the curse increased!
Under the curse of sin, life on earth, which had once been so sweet, became indescribably bitter. In fact, “bitterness” is the definition of the Hebrew root of the word curse. I doubt if Adam realized the full extent of what had happened right away, but as time passed the magnitude of it must have dawned on him. He must have thought, Dear Lord, the seed of everything on the earth is bitter! My own seed is bitter! How will anything on earth ever be pure again? God, how can I ever be Your friend again?
Adam didn’t have a clue. He didn’t know what God’s plan was. It was a mystery hidden in God before the world began (1 Corinthians 2:7). Yet from the very first moment the curse hit the earth, God began to talk about Redemption. Right there, in the Garden of Eden after Adam sinned, God declared His intentional redemption plan. There was one coming, the Son of a woman, who would crush the head of the devil (see Genesis 3:15). Who could God be speaking of in this promise? We shall soon find out…
Study
Wisdom’s Revelation
“But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]” (1 Corinthians 2:7, AMPC).
Live the Word
Is faith wiser than doubt? Yes, if you choose to live according to the wisdom of heaven. Do you need wisdom? Ask and you will receive! He will answer you with knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
Speak the Word
Father, I need Your revelation wisdom in my life. I choose to believe what You say more than the circumstances. I believe I hear Your voice as I study Your Word. Reveal Your wisdom to me, and I will walk in Your truth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Scripture Study: James 1:5-6; Colossians 1:9; Proverbs 2:6
Apply
The wisdom of God is hidden FOR us. As believers, all we need to do is ask God, and He will give it to us. We need His wisdom, not the world’s knowledge, to operate optimally in these days and times.
Walking it out to victory:
- First, read the Word.
- Then pray for wisdom and understanding.
- Finally, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Click on the image below to download the PDF with the devotion and the craft activities related to Adam.
