Jonathon Wright's Blog

 Milestones are those events we never forget like getting married or having children. Yet for writers there first books can be interesting milestones as well.  Book 1 in this series was a great milestone for me. When I decided to write a second mini story, Better Days Are Coming, my writing started to grow by leaps and bounds. I read some really good Christian suspense authors such as Dan Walsh and Creston Mapes which helped broaden my horizons as a writer and author. I hope you enjoy the many interesting twists in the book that was partially based on my life. 

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I am in the process of editing this post. Will put the links in today or tomorrow.  I am having issues with setting up my mail chimp author account.

 

Chapter 1 How Am I Going To Get Out Of This Mess

Joe rushed out of the house not wanting Houston or his mother, Jane, to ask too many questions. He had a lot to do. Christmas was coming soon and he had some shopping to do. Houston, his stepfather, was first on the list. They had grown very close and he wanted their first Christmas together to be a good one. He decided to get on the freeway hoping to get to the mall quickly. But as usual, the freeway was backed up. Joe turned on some Christmas music, hoping to distract his mind as the cars inched forward and stopped. A car beeped loudly behind him. Joe was annoyed. “All I did was stop to change the radio station. The nerve of some people.”

Erick was in the car right behind Joe. He honked and was mad, but deep down there were many things that caused his frustration. His life had recently taken some unexpected turns. He lost his job a few months back. But his friend Billy introduced him to Tony who was able to loan him some money and get him a good job. However, he had no idea that Tony was a member of a gang associated with the mob who expected him to return the favor by running a few errands for him. Erick knew better than to get involved with the mob, but what could he do now. There was no way for him to pay the man back and get rid of him. If he did not help him the man might do something to him or his family. Erick could not let that happen. So he did what the boss wanted him to do. While Erick was contemplating the harsh reality of his life and the bad choices he made. The car in front of him came to an abrupt stop.

BANG, “What, did that guy just purposely hit my car?” Joe wanted to get out of the car and give that man a piece of his mind. But he knew the Lord would not be pleased. They both pulled off to the side of the road and he was about to call the police. “Of all the days to have a wreck.”

Joe saw the man get out of the car and walk toward him. At first, he was apologetic. “I am so sorry I hit you. My friend is talking to the police now.” Joe rolled his window down and continued to talk to the man. All of a sudden his expression changed.

Erick leaned against the car so no one else could see what he was doing. He pulled a gun that had a silencer out of his coat pocket.

“I need you to hand me your keys, phone, and wallet. I want you to listen closely. I am going to drive your car to Walmart on this side of town. Your keys and phone will be in the glovebox. If you do not call the police your wallet will be in your mailbox first thing tommorrow mourning. If you do as I say you will never see me or the people I work for again. We cannot have the police learning about this. If you don’t listen there will be a price to pay. We have police scanners. I think that is very fair don’t you? Now I want you to get out of the car and go over into the grass and lay on your stomach with you head down. Do not look up until I am gone. Do not try anything funny or I will shoot.”

Joe knew better than to complain about the rain and the mud in the grass. He knew better than to worry about his clothes getting stains and other petty stuff. This man meant business, and he did not want to die.

A few seconds later both cars sped off driving on the side of the road and exited the freeway. Joe continued to stare at the ground. He was happy to be alive but there were a lot of questions in his mind. How would he get home? He was miles away and stranded. He was wet and cold from the rain with no money. As he sat on the side of the road feeling depressed and stunned by what happened, the only thing he could say to God was “How am I going to get out of this mess?”

And then Joe heard a familiar voice. Was he dreaming? Could it be his friend Dave? Then he heard it again as he looked up. Dave rolled his window down. “Get in. No friend of mine should be out in this kind of weather. What happened? Did that guy just steal your car? I am going to call the police and wait with you. Then I will take you home. Don’t worry they will get this guy.”

“No, don’t call the police. Take me to Walmart so I can get my car.”

Dave looked at Joe in astonishment as Joe explained all that the man had told him. “That is why I don’t want to call the police. I don’t want to see these people again. Next time they might shoot me on the spot. After getting to Walmart they found Joe’s car at Walmart. Joe was so glad to get his car back.

The next day Joe went to the mailbox first thing and sure enough, the envelope was in the mailbox. He breathed a sigh of relief that this ordeal was finally over. Joe did not tell his parents Jane or Houston. The damage on his car was minimal, and he did not want them to worry needlessly or worse call the police. Plus they had enough problems dealing with Houston’s health concerns.

Later that night Joe awoke to lots of coughing and heard the unpleasant sound of Houston throwing up. Joe was concerned because this was becoming a habit for him lately. He wondered if Houston was okay. Jane told him she was calling the doctor first thing in the mourning, and they were going to the doctor whether he liked it or not.

Chapter 2 Houston’s Battle

The next day, Houston went to see his doctor, Sid. They ran several tests and did some routine scans for cancer and other things. A week later, Jane and Houston sat in the Doctor’s office waiting to hear the news. Deep down inside he already knew what was going to happen. Sid, his doctor was going to tell him the lung cancer had returned. Then he was going to refer him to a cancer specialist, who would recommend Chemotherapy or worse surgery. He had been in remission for a couple of years, but the symptoms seemed to be worse this time. He wondered if Chemo was going to help. He also wondered if they were going to check him into the hospital. He had a constant cough; his stomach was upset. But what concerned him the most was that he could not walk straight. Because of the dizziness in his head, he had to stop every so often to make sure he was not going to fall.

Sid met them in the hallway as they were entering the examination room. “I’ll be right back with the results of your tests.”

Thirty minutes later Houston wondered, why was he taking so long? He felt uneasy and impatient. The clock on the wall made an annoying clicking sound that did not help his headache or the anxiety that filled his mind. All he wanted to do was go home, go back to sleep, and pretend this was not happening. He looked out the window trying desperately to find something to keep him calm as he waited.

Jane reached for her hand to soothe and comfort him. Houston put his head on her shoulder and decided to rest his eyes. He was so glad that she decided to go with him. Her hand and shoulder brought great comfort to him. He really needed the extra rest. He tossed and turned all night and finally got up for the day at 4 am.

The door creaked open and Houston awoke. Sid popped his head through the door. “I am sorry I took so long.”

Houston did not like the expression on his face. “It’s OK Doc You don’t have to worry. I know what’s coming. The cancer is back. Am I right?”

Sid looked down. “Yes, but there is something more you should know. The cancer has returned in your lungs but it has also spread to the brain, liver, and other parts of the body. You will need to be admitted into the hospital tonight and then tommorrow you will be transfered to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville. I am going to refer you to Dr. Mark Williams, a cancer specialist there. He is one of the best doctors in his field.”

Houston could not believe what he was hearing. “Is it really that serious? Doctor. How long do I have?”

“I cant say at this point. Dr. Williams will be able to answer more of your questions.”

“Do I really have to go to Vanderbilt? Can’t you do something for me here?” He did not like the idea of going across the state to die.

“Vanderbilt has the some of the world’s best technology to be able to fight the agressive cancer that you have spreading throughout your body. If you wait too long your kidney’s could shutdown and its only going to get worse. Something has to be done now if you want to have a chance to survive.” A few minutes later Sid left.

Then a nurse came with a wheelchair and rolled him into another room. “Stay here until we get your room ready. I will come back later and escort you to your room.”

Houston’s mind was overwhelmed by the many thoughts racing through his mind. Why is this happening to me?, There must be some kind of mistake. I just got married and there are so many things at work I need to do. How in the world will my family make it? “Lord you promised not to give me more than I can bear, but this is so much more than I could have imagined.”

His thoughts continued to linger even after they took him to his room and put on his favorite TV show. He loved old westerns like The Lone Ranger and Bonanza. Yet, he could find no solace or relief from his inner turmoil. Finally, the nurse came in and gave him a sedative. It did not help. He asked for more, and she reluctantly gave him one final dose. “Please Lord I need to go to sleep.” Finally, he drifted off to sleep.

The next day they went to Vanderbilt hoping to get some answers. The trip was only three hours but it felt like an eternity. Houston Thanked God they were kind enough to let Jane ride with him in the back of the ambulance, even though it was against hospital policy. Unfortunately, he had already taken all his pain medication and it would be several hours before they would give him more. So there he was wide awake wrestling with his thoughts again.

Finally, at eleven o’clock in the mourning, the ambulance rolled into Vanderbilt Hospital. Houston had to wait out in the hall until his room was ready. The staff was very nice in getting him an early lunch. He was starving. Shortly after getting him into his room the nurse, Paula gave him his medicine and he was able to get some much-needed rest. Three hours later he heard voices in the hallway that startled him awake.

“Jane aplogized. I’m sorry, did I wake you? It is probably good that you woke up because the doctor is going to be coming soon.”

A few minutes later, Dr. Williams walked into the room and explained the situation. “Your Cancer is inoperable because it has spread throughout your body.”

Houston interrupted him, “Tell me something I do not know.”

“Chemotherapy is an option, but it would extend your life maybe six months at best.”

“No, I don’t want Chemo. There are too many side effects and it just is not worth it for six months. Do you think I could be transferred to another facility to be closer to my family and friends? I really don’t want to spend my last days couped up in a hospital far away from home.”

Dr. Williams saw the look of concern on his face. “That sounds like a really good idea. I will need to check into that and get back to you . It may take a few days to make it happen. Since you have opted not to take Chemo therapy there is not much else I can do for you. Our goal is to make your last days as comfortable as possible.”

“Yeah your staff has been amazing.”

Thank you, Paula said with a smile. You have been one of the best patients we have ever had. She rolled Houston into his room and helped him get into bed.

About an hour later Joe finally arrived at the hospital. He was expecting HOuston to be sad. But Houston put him at ease with his jovial attitude. His composure was amazing. “I really admire you, Houston. I have never seen anyone like you.”

Well, I finally decided to give this to God. If it was not for Him and the medicine I would have no peace. But what really gives me peace is that I know where I am going. I am going home to be with Jesus. I have many questions and look forward to talking to Jesus. I know Heaven will be so much better than life here on earth. Yeah, I am glad to be a Christian too. God has gotten our family through some tough times.

That night Houston had a dream. He read about dreams in the Bible but this was so unexpected. In his mind, he saw a bright beautiful place. His former wife Jackie and his kids were singing, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Then he saw Jane and Joe. There was a huge hand that seemed to engulf them. His dream came to an abrupt end when a nurse came into his room. As he awoke Houston knew that God was going to take care of his family. This dream gave him the peace that he so desperately needed.

He looked to his right and saw Jane and Joe. A big smile came over his face. He laughed as he felt God’s comfort and presence fill his soul.

Joe noticed a calm and happy expression on his face. “Why are you so happy?”

“I had a dream, and you need to hear this.”

Both of them were amazed as he told them the wonderful dream. Little did they know, this would be the last night they would talk to him. But, it really helped them to know Houston was going to be in a better place. It helped them have faith that things were going to be okay. The Lord knew Joe and Jane needed a reminder of God’s Sovereignty and Mercy. This Divine encounter helped them have the faith to endure the many challenges that were coming. Even though they were sad, they also were happy that he was in a better place and did not have to suffer.

If you would like to know more about Joe’s other adventures see https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0CF8FG71D

We are glad you came to visit our site today. Jonathon Wright would like to briefly introduce himself.   He is  a writer for Good News Christian Magazine in Cleveland Tennessee.  He has dreams of becoming a freelance devotional and inspirational writer.   Jonathon is also an affiliate member of the Christian Writers Bookstore. This is a great organization to help authors get started on their journey to becoming Christian authors.  There are lots of great authors and many genres to choose from on this site. 

My adventures in self-publishing began when I started publishing journals to encourage spiritual and personal growth. My company's name is Everyday Notes And Journals.  Shortly after this, I published an ebook entitled A Dramatic And Prophetic Short Story: Jesus and His Early Life. This 43-page story helps us see all the wonderful things God did to show people Jesus was His Son.  For more information about these wonderful resources see https://christianwritersbookstore.com/jonathon-wright   Make sure to check out some of the other resources and authors in your genre of choice. 

Currently, I am writing on the Kindle Vella Platform and continuing my story about Christ and His Life from the perspective of the Gospel of John.  I also want to publish a complete list of the devotions I have written for Good News and other Magazines.  
I need to mention a couple of things about the Kindle Vella Platform. First,  Kindle Vella is cost-efficient for authors and readers. When you first start out they give you 200 free tokens. You can get another round of tokens for  $1.99.  The number of tokens is based on the number of words in the post. I personally like to write very short 600 to 1000-word posts because I like to blog.  These first three episodes are free. In my story, the last 3 episodes were less than 30 tokens.  So as you can see the free tokens go a long way. And $1.99 is not a bad deal if you find an author you like and want to read more.  However, my desire is to put a little more Christian Influence on the Platform.  See https://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-kindle-vella for more details about the price and the Kindle Vella service. 
Here is a link to some free and paid resources available on the Kindle Vella platform. https://amazon.com/author/everydaynotes   
I developed this site to help others get published on Amazon and connect people to Christian authors.  So whether you are a Christian author or someone who likes to read Christian books this site is for you.  I will also highlight other aspiring authors on this page. I may even write a review for their books or other services to those who want to be the next great Christian author.  When you support them you are supporting their ministries and the people they will touch with their writing. Thanks I hope you enjoy the site. It may take a while to build up this site but keep coming back and let me know what you think.   

  We have all know the story of how Jesus walked on the water but I would like to tell it from John's perspective. He adds some interesting details not found in the other Gospels. See John 6:16-21. 
We all got into the boat. It was already late. We waited for as long as we could. But, Jesus was not coming. I did not like leaving without Him, but Jesus told us He would catch up. So we started rowing. After we rowed about 3 miles, the weather took a turn for the worse. The wind and the waves made it hard to maneuver the boat.
We were miles away from land, and I wondered if we were going to have to swim to shore. It was dark. I could not see a thing. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something hovering above the waters, it was getting closer and closer. It looked like a ghost. I didn't believe in ghosts, but the closer it got, the more scared I became.  
Finally, the familiar and comforting voice of Jesus rang out. “It is me. Do not be afraid.”
Man, was I glad we let Jesus into the boat. The storm immediately stopped. The next thing I knew, we were at our destination. How in the world did we travel that many miles in a split second. How in the world did He do that.
The Surprising Nature of Miracles
Many times God's miracles are surprising. The Bible many stories of God doing impossible things. Scripture God can do more than we can ask, think, or imagine. See Ephesians 3:20-21. 
This verse got me to thinking, how in the world did I make it to college and find a wife? I spent most of my life in a single parent home. My mom did not make a lot of money, so I had to work to help support the family. I did not have much money or time for a social life. But when I was in my 30s, the Lord made a way for me to go to college, where I met my wife. 
I also wondered how in the world did I became a writer after working almost 40 years in the grocery industry. After graduating from college and starting a family, I knew God had a call on my life, but had no way to make it happen. I struggled to understand or know how to fulfill God's call on my life. But God made a way. John's miracle happened in an instant. My miracles took a little longer, but God still did some amazing things. 
I would like to close with some recent things that God has done in a friend's life. I will not mention his name; but my friend had a family member who could not get a job and was struggling with addiction. He asked our prayer group at North Cleveland Church of God to pray for his family. It was a very trying ordeal that lasted for many years. His family member, finally, got the help he needed. And I have news he has been clean and sober for almost a year now. He even found a job and got back into church. When I heard this, all I could say was God did it again. His miracles often make me say how in the world did He do that?    

Article written by Jonathon Wright.

This is a preview of my latest book entitled A Dramatic and Prophetic Short Story: Jesus His Early Life. It is available at https://christianwritersbookstore.com/jonathon-wright I also have a sequel about the Prophetic Ministry of Jesus in the works. It is starting to take shape. I will keep you posted when the time comes closer. It takes time to make something worthwhile. Let me know what you think. Thanks so much.

Joseph’s Dilemma And Dream  (Matthew 1:18-23)    

Mary was excited, about the promise that God had given her.  God through the Holy Spirit was going to give her a child. And He would be God’s Son. This fact was further confirmed by many obvious symptoms associated with pregnancy.  Mary knew long before anyone else that she was having a baby. Yet, Mary had a problem. How and when would she tell her family and Joseph that the child was from the Holy Spirit?

Joseph, her husband-to-be, was away trying to establish himself and make a home for them. She briefly wondered if he or anyone would believe her. But she purposed in her heart to pray and trust God would intervene and help her. So she placed the whole situation in God’s hands. Her faith and confidence in God would not let her think or do otherwise.

Now, the day of her marriage was fast approaching. Mary noticed that her stomach was becoming bigger, and she was showing signs of being with a child. Her heart filled with excitement. But she also was afraid of what Joseph would think. She had not told him yet. But now, it was becoming harder and harder to hide the baby inside.

Joseph finally realized she was pregnant. Mary told him about the angel, Elizabeth, and all that God had told her. See Luke 1. Mary was relieved to finally tell him EVERYTHING. Mary was worried because of his candid reaction to the news. But, God was working to confirm that Mary was telling the truth. 

Joseph was on the verge of calling the wedding off and secretly putting Mary away. The more he thought about these things, the angrier and more betrayed he felt. “How could she do this to me?” “There is no way God is the father of this baby!!!” He could not sleep but finally dozed off from sheer exhaustion. Yet, it would not be long before his sleep was disturbed by a surprise angelic guest and a message from Heaven.

The angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child was from the Holy Spirit. The child will be called Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. This was done to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, who said a virgin would give birth. This child would be called Immanuel, which means God with us.  See also Isaiah 7:14.

When Joseph woke up from his dream, he could not stop thinking about what happened. He sat up in bed thinking how unbelievable and bizarre this was. But he could not deny what he had seen and heard, especially the things written in the Old Testament. He was living out the fulfillment of something great. A virgin, aka his future wife, was going to give birth to God’s Son, the Messiah. He could not take it all in. Joseph tried to wrap his brain around all that was happening. In the end, he had to acknowledge that God was all-knowing and all-powerful. So Joseph took Mary as his wife and named the child Jesus, as the angel had told him.   

Some have raised questions about how these things could have happened. But the Creator of the universe knows all things and has the power to create. Whether it is from the dust of the ground or inside a woman’s stomach makes no difference. Yet, it is more amazing that God sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins. God stepped into Mary and Joseph’s life. He gave and confirmed this promise and then stepped in to save their marriage. Wow!!! What a great God we serve. And His Spirit still moves and does great things today.

A Royal Announcement Luke 2:1-20

Even though Mary was in the advanced stages of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where David, a great king of Israel, was born. They made this trip because of a census ordered by Caesar Augustus. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary was showing more signs that the baby could come at any minute.  They had to act fast. After much searching, Joseph finally came upon a kind man, with a barn and lots of hay. Joseph paid the man and said, “Thank you that is just what I needed. My wife is about to have a baby and needs a private soft place to lie down and have the baby.”

They were so thankful because the alternative of having a baby on the side of a crowded, hard road was not appealing. God’s timing could not have been better. As soon as Mary got off her feet, the baby was starting to crown. They had made it to the barn just in time. 

It is easy to think that Jesus, the future King, and Promised Son should have been born in a more elegant place. But a manger, a donkey stall, in the back of a secluded barn, who could have imagined? This was not the place for a baby to be born. Yet this is where God gave His greatest blessing to them and the world. And the family of Jesus was so thankful for what God blessed them with. 

Mary and Joseph, even though related to King David, were not royals or special people in the eyes of man. But God’s grace is like that you know. Yet God chose them to bring the Savior into the world. They were not affluent, but poor and average people who could not find a place to stay for the night. They had no midwives or anyone to help them with the birth. The couple, probably, did not have the time or money to find anyone. Mary and Joseph had to do this on their own. Mary herself had to wrap the baby in some old clothes. 

After the birth of Jesus, the barn was finally quiet. The cries and pains of giving birth were gone. Now as the new parents looked at their child there was a sigh of relief, joy, and peace. As they held the baby in their arms, they knew they had a wonderful gift, a precious and sacred child. The entire family was resting and bonding with the new baby. Even the baby finally dozed off to sleep. These are the times that a husband and wife wish would go on forever. Such quiet and peaceful times.  

Shepherds Luke 2:8-20

Yet, shortly after this, Mary and Joseph would have an enormous crowd of unexpected visitors. Unknown to the new parents, the Creator of the Universe wanted the world to know about the birth of His Son. And He was about to make a proper royal announcement to a group of shepherds. The shepherds were in a field not too far away. It was dark, and they had worked all day taking care of their sheep. In the quiet of the night, the shepherds were all alone with the sheep and the stars. Suddenly, an unexpected flash of light and an ANGEL appeared to them. The Glory of the Lord surround them and brought them to their knees. 

If we read these verses too fast, it is easy to miss the significance of what God was doing. The Lord, Himself, surrounded the Shepherds and Angels with His Glory. Moses, the greatest leader of Israel, once prayed for God to show him His Glory. But God had to hide Moses in the cleft of a rock until He passed by. No one could see God’s face and live. See Exodus 33:18-23. Yet now the Glory of God was surrounding these Angels and Shepherds. God was revealing Himself in even greater ways to them to announce the birth of His Son. But the angel’s appearance terrified and frightened them to the core. God’s Glory was too much for them to take in. For a brief moment, they were motionless, crippled by all that was happening. 

“10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12. NIV.

SUDDENLY, a great company of many more Angels appeared. They praised God, giving glory to Him for His peace and goodwill toward men. The Angels said these wonderful things and then immediately vanished from their sight.

After the angels left, the shepherds wanted to go to Bethlehem and see this child the Lord had told them about. They went and found the child in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes, as the Angel told them. They all stood in awe and wonder as they stared intently at Jesus. They wondered if He would be like Moses or other great kings. And it was all happening right before their eyes.

Mary and Joseph, before the Shepherds came, may have felt alone. But now the barn was crammed full of people and animals. Mary and Joseph never dreamed the barn could hold this many people. There was so much contagious joy and celebration in the air. Everyone was celebrating that the Promised Messiah had finally come. And they all wanted to see and hold the baby in their arms.

Many hours later, the Shepherds knew it was time to go. But they went home praising and rejoicing in God. On their journey home, they told everyone they saw and knew about the Messiah and Lord that had been born. Surely the whole town must have been in an uproar. The long-awaited promise given to David was now coming to pass.

I have decided to post a new and upcoming book I am in the process of writing. I am doing this first to get feedback from other Christians. We learn and grow from others and if there are things that need to be said in different ways it is important to get and hear differing perspectives. Thanks. I hope you enjoy this fascinating story. it is called God’s Unusual Plan: A Dramatic Historic Devotional. It is based on Genesis 1-9. I will post weekly chapter updates until the book is complete.

Introduction

The Bible contains many dramatic, and important stories of God and people like you and me. Many times they are miraculous and triumphant, but other times tragic. The story of Adam, Eve, Noah, and the Ark is a very familiar tragic story at the beginning of the Bible. But this story is not primarily a tragedy. It also contains a tremendous promise of hope and many unusual things that pique our human interest and remind us of God’s love and power. Especially the power to create the world and turn a bad situation into something good.

It all started when God turned a bad situation around on the first day of Creation.  He spoke light into a dark and shapeless world.  He then molded it into a masterpiece of Divine beauty and goodness. Adam and Eve were given a beautiful Garden to cultivate. THEN, they momentarily stepped away from God and brought sin into the world, which led to death. Yet the Lord was merciful and good to them before and after their major mistake. He gave them the promise of a future seed. This promise set in motion the entire story of the Bible, which points us to Christ.  Adam and Eve had no clue that this promise would lead to Christ. But the Lord still helped them in many profound ways that reveal God’s love to them and the world today.  And if God had not been so merciful and good to them, they would have died long before the Flood even entered God’s mind, and the world as we know it would have passed away with them. Thus, Genesis 1-3 offers us the first compelling glimpse into God’s big heart for the world. These first few chapters, like the rest of the Bible, will show God’s love for Adam, Eve, and humanity today. They will start to paint a picture of the beauty and goodness of Creation, the Garden, and the heart of God.    

Shortly after the initial fall of man, Cain killed his brother Abel. This was the second catalyst of man’s continuing moral decline.  Again the Lord was merciful. He allowed Cain, who was supposed to be a wanderer, to build a city for his son Enoch. He even put a mark on Cain so that everyone would know the Lord wanted the killing to stop. And if that was not enough, the Lord would avenge the one who killed Cain seven-fold. But the killing did not stop. The violence and problems continued to escalate.  But the Lord was very patient with this evil and corrupt generation. Yet because of their never-ending violence, they faced a tragic flood.  Violence, evil, and corruption many times lead to death even today. The Lord as a God of justice has to stand against such things.  There was no law or court system and men were violent, corrupt, and evil to each other. Noah was the only good man in the world, and even his family was being infiltrated by the evil and corruption of his day. Someone had to step in for the sake of justice and in the name of love, as well as for the sake of His unusual good plan of salvation. The Lord had to step in to save Noah, his family, and the world.  This statement is more true than we could ever realize and will be discussed in greater detail as the story develops.

Concluding Purpose  

In this study, we will encounter unusual places. We will witness Creation, visit the Garden of Eden, and explore the Fall of Mankind. We may even answer some theological questions about Adam and Creation along the way. I hope to explain these events in more down-to-earth terms.   

We will explore an interesting pattern of names in Adam and Cain’s family. People like Enoch and Lamech are in both families, but many years apart.  After being banished from Adam’s family, Cain’s son Enoch with his dad’s help built the city of Nod, which was large and industrious. Just a few years after this Cain’s grandson Lamech killed a man for wounding him. He continued the cycle of Cain and sent his family spiraling further away from God.

But in Adam’s family, Enoch was the first great prophet of his time who went up to Heaven and never tasted death. He also influenced Lamech, the father of Noah, who was the only righteous man of his generation. There is a fascinating pattern of names within Adam’s family. Recognizing this pattern helps us understand the complete story leading to the Flood.  We also encounter some mysterious giant men known as the Nephilim. Believe it or not, they are important to the entire story of the Bible. They will not be so mysterious at the end of this study. 

Aside from enjoying a good story and learning some interesting things about our ancestors, there are two other goals for this study.  First is for you the reader to understand how Genesis 1-9 fits into the whole story of the Bible. When you pick up a good book, it is crucial to read the beginning, so you will understand the book as a whole. 

Second, there are some foundational truths about God and our lives I want to convey. These foundational truths can make our world, families, and relationship with God better. They could have prevented the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind. Unfortunately, no one but Noah was listening.  

As we come to Genesis 1, envision yourself going to the very throne of God, the place where God speaks. He speaks, and a beautiful world comes into existence. He created the world in 6 days. From the moment God spoke on the first day, the world has never been the same since. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The first four days describe the creation of Heaven and Earth. In the last two days, God creates animals and man to fill the earth. 

Day 1 Genesis 1:1-5 

The Earth is shapeless, an empty mass floating in dark space and water.  God’s Spirit is hovering over the waters of the deep. I can envision Him looking down, ready to move at the speed of light, waiting for the command. Then God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT.”  The Holy Spirit exploded through the waters and darkness that surrounded the earth. 

The inventor of light brought a great blessing to the world. But God gave us His light, and one day the world will not need the sun and the moon because God will be its source of light. See Revelations 21:23.  

God divided the light from the darkness. He called the light day and darkness night. The Holy Spirit flew through the entire world, splitting it in half. This imagery leads me to think about the equator, and how one side of the earth is dark while the other side is light. On the first day of Creation, one can already see the artistic flair of God’s Creation. 

It is strange that God did not call the darkness good but still used it. He separates the good from the bad, but still uses the good and the bad in our lives to produce good things. Many designers today use dark and light colors to highlight their creations. I am amazed at how God can take something that looks bad and make something good out of it. Verse 5 completes the first day by saying the evening and the mourning were the first day. I find it fascinating that our day begins in the middle of the night. Yet, on the other side of the world, dawn is approaching. 

Day 2 Genesis 1:6-8

On the first day, the Lord brought light into the waters and there was a contrast of light and dark colors. Now on Day 2 He further separates light and darkness by creating the sky. He separated the waters above the sky from the waters below the sky. The King James Version calls it a firmament but later refers to it as heaven. Paul in the New Testament talks about going up into the third Heaven. That is the Heaven beyond the sky and outer space. See 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. That is one of the reasons we look up into the sky and think about God and Heaven. Of course, there is no way to know where the third Heaven is exactly.  

As I look up into the sky, I also think about clouds. They are a fantastic site to behold and contain water as the Bible describes. I could spend hours imagining what God intended when he placed each one.  I am also mesmerized by the amazing blue sky. It is Heaven on earth. 

Day 3 Genesis 1:9-13 The Miraculous Parting And Moving of Waters

God spoke twice on the third day. First, He commanded the waters below the heavens to gather into one place, and dry land appeared. He called the dry land Earth, and the waters around the earth He called the Seas. These miracles of separating and gathering the waters in days 2-3 remind me of how God parted the Red Sea. See Exodus 14. Of course, these miracles far exceed that tremendous miracle.   

Immediately after this, the Lord spoke a second time. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb-yielding seed, and fruit trees. The Creator was getting things ready for mankind long before man was ever created. The herbs that bore seeds as well as the fruit of trees would be food for man. As land was beginning to emerge, Creation was taking shape and God saw that it was good. 

Day 4 Genesis 1:14-19  

God saw the wonderful light that He had placed on the Earth. But He also saw that the world needed a little more light. There is no mention of the world being a sphere. Yet the earth in its sphere-like shape was ready for the Lord to create and place the sun, moon, and stars. This may have included Pluto, Jupiter, and Mars. They are not mentioned here, but He created these things. 

Thank you, God, for such wonderful lights that fill the sky and brighten our world. Thank you for the Sun that rules the day, and the Moon that rules the night. Who doesn’t like to behold the sunrise and sunset? I also like to look at the stars at night when the sky is clear. These lights would serve as signs to mark sacred times, days, and years. The whole process of how the earth spins and revolves around the sun and the moon is amazing. 

Day 5 Genesis 1:20-23 

God filled the seas and skies with birds, sea creatures, and many other living things. He spoke life to them and blessed them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the world. I like to watch documentaries about birds and sea animals in the wild. It is fascinating to watch all the different animals God created. Sometimes birds even land in my front and backyard. And a beautiful coral reef is a magnificent wonder to behold. The complexity of nature in the skies and oceans reveals the wonderful and intelligent design of its Creator. I am awestruck at His grand design. But there is still more.    

Day 6  Genesis 1:24-31

The Lord created the land animals and man and blessed them to fill the earth.  He gave man and other creatures the ability to reproduce. But, the Lord created mankind in the image of God and told them to subdue and rule the earth and all living things. 

They were living in God’s Paradise and life was good. The Creator went the extra mile to ensure that every detail of His creation was good.  And after creating man, the capstone of Creation, the world was very good indeed.  As we turn the page in Genesis, something interesting about the relationship between Genesis 1 and 2 needs to be discussed. 

An Important History Genesis 2:1-4

These verses describe God resting on the seventh day, after the work of Creation. One wonders why the Lord provided us with this bit of information. God did not need to rest but He chose to rest. He could have just stopped and not told us anything. He is God after all. However, the concept of rest would become a very important part of the life of Israel or God’s people in the Old Testament. Keep in mind you are reading an ancient book that has been passed down for centuries in the Jewish and Hebrew culture. The Lord told Moses in Exodus 20 that they were to do no work on the Sabbath or 7th day to honor God resting after Creation. The Lord blessed and sanctified this day as a day of rest and worship. Of course, God wanted His people to have a weekly set time to remember and honor Him as their Creator. Having said that Genesis 1 also reminds us of some other things about God and rest. On the first day of Creation, God established night and day, knowing we need to work during the day and sleep at night. He even designed our bodies to daily regenerate. Many doctors over the years have told their patients to go home and rest there is nothing else they can do. This is a huge blessing we do not normally take time to think about or praise the Lord for. We were after all fearfully and wonderfully made.   

After resting on the seventh day it does not take long for God to create Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden. Because Adam was created after the work of Creation, I often wonder.  Are there two Creation accounts? It seems obvious because of the order of events and timing of Adam’s Creation in Genesis 2 that prehistoric men and dinosaurs could have existed before Adam. My purpose is neither to defend nor reject these ideas. But they are a possibility based on the historical context and reading of the story. These questions are fascinating. However, I am not convinced the writer had them in mind when he wrote about Adam and Creation. I believe he wanted to focus on telling us a more important story about God, man, sin, and the nation of Israel. The author’s historical purpose is first revealed in Genesis 2:4. 

Notice what this verse has to say, “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” KJV. 

There are two important things I would like to mention. First, this verse takes us back in time to when God created Heaven and Earth in Genesis 1.  This flashback gives us more details about mankind when they were created. We do not have a lot of information about the Creation of men and women. They both were made in the image of God, male and female were created. I find the story of how God made Eve a little more endearing.   Also as the study continues in Genesis 2 more details about their life and relationship with God will come to light. Thus I believe Genesis 2 adds some interesting and important details about Creation and our ancient ancestors. 

Second, the word “generations” is a key historical marker throughout Genesis. Here it references the Heavens and the Earth. Later in Genesis 5:1, it will refer to Adam. In 6:9 and 10:1  the term refers to Noah and his sons. Later in Genesis, it will be used to track Shem’s family leading to Abraham and Jacob. See 11:27, 25:12, 25:19 36:1, 37:2.  Each time it is used to mark segments of history related to the Lord’s people who would become the nation of Israel.  

Thus Genesis 1 starts with a story of God and Creation and ends with God resting on the seventh day. But Genesis 2 and beyond continues the story of Creation with the history of God, Adam, and his descendants. It tracks the families of those who worship God from Adam through Jacob.  He is significant because of his twelve sons who would become the nation of Israel. The rest of the Bible records the history of Israel that would unknowingly, to them, lead to Christ in the New Testament. 

In our next lesson, we will discuss Adam’s sudden creation and the things he saw and learned in the Garden of Eden. These things would be crucial for his survival as well as the entire world. Thanks for taking the time to read these articles it means a lot to me.  Again if you have any questions or feedback you can email me at jonche@gmail.com. Thanks and May God bless you.

The Creation of Adam Genesis 2:5-7

I can envision the Lord rising from his chair of rest. He is silently and suddenly preparing to create man. Notice how verses 5-6 describe the world before Adam’s unexpected birth. There is no plant or herb in the field. It had not rained, and there was no man to till or farm the ground. The reader has no clue that God is about to start a chain of creative events. Many times, God moves and works in very sudden and unexpected ways. I am reminded of the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. I am not going to describe that event but in a similar way, the creation of Adam was sudden and unexpected. Notice what happened in these 2 verses.

A mist came up from the earth and watered the ground. And the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground. It is a well-known fact that we as humans are made of a significant amount of water. We need it to survive. The Lord formed Adam with the right amount of water to dirt ratio. Then He breathed into Him the breath of life. This description fits with the first chapter of Genesis, where God created man in His image. The Lord shaped and fashioned Adam with such precision and definition. He then very intimately breathed life into Adam’s lungs. Even though he had given life to all living things, it was a man who had the very breath of God. This happened so fast. God must have moved at the speed of light.
Shortly after this, the Lord planted a garden in Eden and placed Adam in the garden. This is where Adam would learn many life lessons from the Lord. These lessons would help him later, take care of the Garden, and survive after leaving the Garden. Adam passed his knowledge about farming and life to his children. And the world today is still reaping the benefits of this farmer’s wisdom. There also were some miraculous and beautiful things God did and Adam saw in the Garden. These things reveal a beautiful picture of the power of God and the beauty of the Garden. Let’s take a closer look.

The Miracle And Blessing of Trees Genesis 2:8–9
Almost immediately, after bringing Adam into the Garden, the Lord caused the trees to grow from the ground. Notice how the verses are connected by that conjunction AND. Thus I believe this was the first miracle witnessed by a man who had just been placed in the Garden. There are three things about the trees that I would like to mention. First, there are two important trees mentioned in the middle of the Garden. This included the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The latter will become a major part of the storyline and plot. See Genesis 2:9. We will get to that a little later. Second, notice how all the trees in Genesis 2:9 came forth miraculously. This is in contrast to the Garden that God planted, which needed to take some time to grow. The trees grew immediately to sustain Adam’s life while waiting for the first harvest. The Lord could have made the Garden grow like the trees, but He decided to let nature take its course in the Garden.

This reminds me of a great spiritual truth. God sometimes operates in instantaneous and miraculous ways. But at other times He lets nature take its course. Many, but not all, of the miracles we receive today happen over a progression of time. However, this does not take away from the miraculous things that He does. Either way, we should trust that God is good. And that He has a great plan for our lives. He has given us so many precious promises because of Christ.
Third, trees have been a source of great blessing to the world today. As I look around my house today, there is not much that does not have some form of wood in it. All houses are filled with many things that come from trees. For example, walls, cabinets, drawers, bookcases, paper products, and more. Trees also provided man with sweet and juicy fruit to eat, and continue to enhance the beauty of Creation. They are a great blessing to the world today. I especially like the shade of trees on a hot day. Whenever I think my life is bad, I go look at the trees and the beautiful things that fill them, like animals and leaves. A walk through nature, sometimes, is what I need to make life a little more bearable.

A Beautiful And Significant River Genesis 2:10-14
Verse 10 describes a river that flowed around the Garden. It is also connected to four significant river heads. Before God planted the Garden in Eden, a mist came up from the ground to water the earth. Now there is a great river with sub rivers that are helping to water the garden and the earth. Rivers today connect land to the ocean. This was a tremendous blessing for the garden as well as the world. There is no mention of rivers in Genesis 1. Thus, by creating the Garden and its rivers, the Lord was blessing the world. He provided a much need source of water for those who later would move inland as the world started to grow.

More About The Rivers
The author describes these rivers in great detail. His description makes scholars wonder if the Garden of Eden can be found. The first river, Pison, encompassed the land of Havilah. This land is described as having gold, bdellium, onyx, and other precious gemstones. Some scholars believe Havilah to be near modern-day Arabia, where gold has been found. [1]
The second river referred to as Gihon encompassed the land of Cush. Scholars today equate this with modern-day Ethiopia. But the exact location of this river cannot be completely identified.

Yet, the third and fourth rivers are large and well-known. The Hiddekel is associated with the Tigris. And the river Euphrates retains its name even today. The place where these rivers intersect gives scholars many clues to the location of Eden. But the exact location is still a Divine mystery.[2]
In conclusion, I wonder, if Adam and the Lord had time to take a tour along these beautiful rivers and lands. The description does seem very precise. One thing is for sure. Knowledge about the location of these rivers would be crucial to man’s survival. Especially when he is driven from the Garden of Eden and in need of water.

The First Conversation Between God And Man Genesis 2:15-25

After God added the finishing touches of the trees and rivers, the day arrived for Adam to do the job the Lord had prepared for him. The Lord had to talk to Adam before He brought the animals to him. It should be noted that the Lord and Adam were conversant, which is an indication that God taught Adam to speak. The God of Heaven and giver of all wisdom imparted a great blessing to Adam and humanity when he gave him the ability to speak and communicate.

God the Creator had two important things to tell Adam and his descendants. Here is an important summary of their monumental conversation. Adam, I need you to pay attention. There is a tree in the middle of the Garden. The Lord pointed to the specific tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Do not eat from this tree or you will die. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!!! This tree is off-limits. Adam knew the severe implications of the Lord’s tone. He knew that he did not want to die. This was a simple WARNING given for the protection of his life. Kids have to know they can’t eat certain foods, and Adam needed to listen to God’s wisdom. God did not want Adam to know evil or the taste of physical or spiritual death. This was the first ground rule.

The second ground rule did not take place until Adam got his wife, which will be discussed shortly. This ground rule was a revelation given to Adam about his wife. It was basic knowledge about the relationship of a husband and a wife that came from the mouth of Adam but was revealed to him by God. A man and a woman would leave their father and mother to become one husband and wife, and thus one family. These basic instructions about family and life would play a crucial role later as the major dramatic events of our story unfold. Adam’s descendants would violate these principles in the Garden. They would have no value for a man’s life and the family structure. Had they listened to God earlier in both these instances, life in the world would have been extremely better for them. And the story of Noah and the Flood would have never happened. It is the same for us today when we do not listen to the simple WARNINGS and instructions of God’s Word. As we move forward in our discussion of Adam, he and God are looking for a suitable helper and companion.

A Suitable Companion Genesis 2:15-25
God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them because He cared and valued what Adam had to say. They searched high and low, but could not find a suitable helper for him. Adam did at least find some cattle out of the deal, who later would be a big help in the farming industry. Of course, you can understand why this disappointed Adam. There wasn’t anyone he could identify with. The Lord who saw his sad face said, “it is not good for man to be alone”. Shortly after this, the Lord caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. The Lord took a rib from Adam and made the woman.
Adam was very pleased because this was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. The woman brought great joy to Adam. God gave him a helper during the day, and someone to comfort him at night. Of course, these things go both ways, and we should help each other. I could not imagine my life without the wife He blessed me with. She helped me through many hard times. We sometimes clash, but doesn’t everyone? So honey here is my tribute to you. Thanks, I love you and appreciate all you do for our family. You definitely are a blessing and make my life better.

One Big Happy Family
Notice how the man and woman were, what I call, one big happy family. The happiness of the family is dear to the heart of God. That is why He gave us His laws related to family and marriage. It was not to restrict us and make us miserable. But He wanted us to have good, strong families which would help us in life.

There is an interesting pattern throughout our story of Adam’s descendants. It is a pattern of how sin attacks and devalues the entire family structure. In Genesis 3 the relationship between the husband and his wife is tested. Genesis 4 describes two brothers whose fight ends in death. In Genesis 9 a son disgraces his father and loses the blessing God has for him and his family. Between Genesis 4 and 9 Man would have no regard for marriage or human life, and it continued to get worse. All these things greatly affected family life and its happiness. Listening to what God has to say about our families is a key component of happiness in our families. As we turn the page, let’s look at what happened to Adam and Eve to disrupt their happiness. You may know the story, but I hope you will understand it in a better way.

Sources
[1] Gleason L. Archer, Jr., Zondervan’s New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1982), 69-70.

[2] John H. Sailhamer, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary with New International Version Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers Vol 2. Frank E. Gaebelein editor (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1990), 42-43.

The fall of Adam and Eve began in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve’s mistake was the catalyst that brought sin and death into the world. However, their descendants would go far beyond the mistakes of their parents and corrupt the entire world, and animal kingdom. They almost eliminated all good that God intended for the world. These events remind me of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, much later in the New Testament and world history. It would take a while, but things started going downhill after the sin and mistake of Adam. Aside from having children, scripture does not record much about Adam’s accomplishments after this.

However, Genesis 3:1-6:8 offers us a whirlwind tour of well over a thousand years of his ancient family history. The discussion in Genesis 3 will help us understand the fall of Adam and Eve, their sin, and the significant promise of a future Seed or descendant.

The Crafty Serpent 3:1-7

It all started with a seemingly innocent question by a crafty serpent. Back then before the fall, there was peace between man and animals. It was not uncommon for them to talk. It seems strange to us today. However, after the fall, man and animals would not be on talking terms. Animals would later be hiding and afraid for their lives. Hunted down by man for his survival. Because before the fall, mankind was eating an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables. Of course, after Eve’s conversation with this crafty serpent, Adam’s descendants would despise snakes, and associate them with evil and the evil one.

Here is what the serpent said, “Has God not said we could eat from every tree in the Garden”.

Eve replied, “Yes, we can eat from the trees of the Garden, BUT God said, “We cannot eat or touch the tree in the middle of the Garden, lest we die.”

The serpent immediately replied, “You shall not die because God knows you will become like Him, knowing good and evil.”

The serpent was not only questioning God’s Word but God’s intentions. Adam and Eve thought they would die immediately when they ate or touched the fruit of that tree.

However, what happened next made them think twice about God’s stern warning. The defiant serpent took the fruit and ate it right in front of them. Amazingly, he did not die. Even though scripture does not say this directly, that is the only way that Eve could have known that the fruit was good for food.

I can almost hear the snake saying, “This sure does taste good, and you will be wise like God, who knows good and evil.”

The snake was making evil look good but we should all know the truth. True evil is miles away from God and good. Even if it takes a while for its effects to be seen. Eve forgot this simple truth and listened to the crafty serpent who deceived her. Eve took and ate from the forbidden tree. Then Eve gave some to Adam, who was cautiously watching to see if she died. Eve, like the serpent, did not die immediately. Of course, they did not know that God mercifully allowed them to live, but eventually, they would die and return to dust. But as soon as Adam ate the fruit his outlook on life and his wife dramatically changed. Sin was beginning its psychological effect upon man. They immediately knew they were naked and ashamed. They quickly made what I call leaf skirts to cover their nakedness, but God was coming, and they could not hide forever.

What Is The BIG Deal?

It may seem like a small mistake to eat from a tree. Adam and Eve were not killers, so what is the big deal. Adam and Eve were the first people in the world to choose between good and evil. We similarly have a decision will we choose God and good or the way of evil one. Their decision to take from the forbidden tree was similar to men and women today who decide to steal money from the company they work for. The decision to steal could lead to that person losing their job and spending time in jail if the transgression was big enough. The decision of parents today to do such things dramatically affects the lives of their children.

Thus, when Adam decided to take from God’s tree, he violated God’s trust and stole something that God did not want him to have. He also affected the relationship between God and Man.

Adam also lost his job. After all, he was working for God in the Garden and had a lot of perks. Adam needed to learn the hard way that decisions have consequences. His decision cost him a place in the Garden and access to the tree of life. When he lost access to the tree of life, he also lost immortality and eternal life on earth for him and all those who would come after him. His family would suffer through hard times in a Garden that would not produce as good as God’s garden. Later we will talk about God’s Plan recorded in Revelation to create a new heaven and a new earth. But that is miles away from our conversation in this chapter.

After Genesis 3, as I emphasized earlier, the story of Adam starts to decline. The Bible does not record much else about his life and accomplishments other than he had children. Adam and Eve were the first members of the human race who started a domino process that has been perpetuated by the world. For all of humanity sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23. But I am glad the New Testament reveals God’s plan for sin-ridden man. He offered them the gift of eternal life. See John 3:16.

Not only has everyone sinned but we inherited a dying sinful nature. Think for a moment about how you do not have to teach a baby to gravitate toward the wrong things in life. Kids need their parent’s guidance to learn right and wrong. It is because we all are born with a sinful nature. We need God’s guidance to avoid the pitfalls of sin in this life. His forgiveness later described in the New Testament sets us on a new path of life, salvation, and being born again. We all as Christians and non-Christians have problems, but it is better to have God helping along the way. God like a loving Father wants to give us His wisdom and guide our lives. However, Adam’s descendants will gradually do whatever they want, whenever they want, even if it involves murder. When this happened, sin began to dominate and destroy their lives and the first murder took place. However, it was Adam’s sinful mistake that started the process of death in the world. Sin, violence, and bad decisions are still affecting the world today. Of course most people today are not murderers, but sin and bad decisions are still doing a number on all of our lives.

Thank God for providing humanity a way to have our sin accounts forgiven and help in our lifelong struggle between good and evil. I would like to mention that the first good decision we can make is to embrace the gift of salvation Christ offers the world. Romans 6:23 states “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord.”

There is another reassuring promise in 1 John 1:8-9, “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I have claimed this promise many times. When we do this we also should ask the Lord to help us to be more like Jesus. It is a lifelong journey. And we need His help and strength to make it through this journey we call life, and He wants to have a relationship with us. Much like He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden.

“18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  Genesis 2:18 (NIV).

Growing up I loved, and at times hated, working in the garden with my dad. One year, dad asked me to dig 150 postholes that were a foot and a half deep to plant tomatoes. It was a lot of work. But in the end, the hard work paid off, and we had some great-tasting food to eat and drink.  Adam and Eve spent a lot of time in the garden as well.

God created Eve to be a helper in the garden of Adam’s life. The word helper reminds me of the words helpful, beneficial, and good.  Adam and Eve’s job as a married couple was to find ways to make the garden and their lives better. We all know that the actions of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 did not make their family better.  They introduced sin and death into the world.

There is a principle in the word of God called Sowing and Reaping. Galatians 6:7-9 describes this very important principle. It states, “7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV). 

Galatians 5:19-20 helps to understand the difference between the flesh and Spirit. It states. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.” (NIV).  

What kind of things are you planting in the garden of your marriage and life? Are they kind, helpful, and good, or bad, and destructive? It is easy in the heat of an argument to say or do things we don’t mean. But remember, they plant bad seeds in our marriage and lives. It is easy to let anger get the best of you and temptation is all around. But God’s way leads to better things.

Life and marriage may not be a rose Garden, but if you plant a rose, in time one will come. Don’t give up or lose heart, and continue to do things God’s way, and trust that your married life will get better.  Remember 1 Corinthians 2:9 which states, “ But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (NIV). Our actions in tough times can help or hurt our marriage. I want them to help and see more of God in the Garden of my marriage and life. I WANT TO BE A HELPER.  Lord help, my words, and actions glorify you.  I thank you for your amazing grace and recommit my life to you.