Finding Christmas: Look to the Rock

When Isaiah wrote "Look to the rock from which you were hewn," (Is 51:1), he was speaking of Abraham and Sarah. If we consider the ones from whom we are descended, however, we need to look to Adam and Eve, because it was to them that the first prophecy of the coming Messiah was given.

Literally, Adam and Eve lived in heaven on earth. 

In the garden, there was no pain. No suffering. No sorrow. No pests. No disease. It was a foretaste of heaven.

Then, Eve saw the fruit. It was a "delight to the eyes" and she believed the fruit, instead of her daily walks with God, would make her wise. 

"...she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate."                                                                                                                           Gen. 3:6 nasb

It started by listening to the voice of the enemy. It progressed to looking at the fruit. The fruit on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil seemed to be the most beautiful fruit in the garden. The sight of it delighted her. 

Isn't that how sin begins? We take a quick peek in the direction of sin and it looks lovely. 

We see the glitter and the attraction, but we fail to see the price, the consequences.

When she took the fruit from the tree, her decision was made. Eating the fruit, the one thing God had said not to do, was only seconds behind. Adam quickly followed.

One quick snack of disobedience changed everything. 

They no longer knew only good. After their disobedience, their sin, they knew evil, as well. 

It was the first sin. Adam and Eve are the rocks from which we were hewn, for we have continued their bent for sin, just as God knew we would.

When the Lord came to the garden that afternoon, He spoke words to the serpent that we celebrate this season.

"And I will put enmity 

between you and the woman,

and between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head,

and you shall bruise him on the heel."

                              Genesis 3:15 nasb

The seed of woman (Jesus), by his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, delivered a fatal blow (bruise on the head) to the evil one. The bruise on the heel (crucifixion) was not fatal, for death could not hold our King.

It is that sacrifice, that fatal blow to the hold of sin in our lives, that Jesus' birth represents. 

This Christmas, let's look to the rock from which we were hewn, two sinners in a perfect garden, and recognize the price of our sin. 

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to His own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.                     Isaiah 53:6 nasb

This Christmas, let's remember the price of our sin and the One who paid it, but let us also turn from our sin to that Holy One whose sacrifice we celebrate.

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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links: Finding Christmas: The Importance of Surrender,  Finding Christmas: Separating Truth and Fiction, Finding Christmas: Ongoing Surrender, Finding Christmas: Hidden Paths, and Finding Christmas: Not Forgotten, Finding Christmas: Sustenance for the Weary, and Finding Christmas: Remembering the Stripes.

The most read post of the last week: Finding Christmas: Separating Truth and Fiction.

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