God created man to worship and love him. He had prepared a place for man to dwell, providing all of man’s needs. (Genesis 1, 2). In doing this, God allowed for his creation, man, to be able to decide to obey him or to follow another way (Joshua 24:15).
Satan, true to his character, wanted to snare God’s creation. His way of tempting man was the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life (John 2:16). “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). Sin had entered into the world, taking away the perfection that had existed.
The closeness that had existed between God and man was broken, for sin separates man from God. “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Genesis paints a beautiful picture of God’s concern for man. “And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden. And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, ‘Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8-9).
God knew where man was, but man had to realize for himself where he was. He was in sin.
Man was afraid; this had never happened before, and what was he to do? What would God do? Man began to make excuses. Adam said the woman gave him of the tree, and he ate of it. Eve said the serpent deceived her, and she ate. This characteristic of man has not changed — men still try to blame others for their failings.
God could have, within his realm of justice, destroyed man. Instead, he provided a way for man to be redeemed. The buying back of man would be paid for with the blood of Christ. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Satan is the enemy of man; through a virgin, Christ would be born, and through his death on the cross man would find the possibility of salvation.
It was by man that sin entered into the world, and all have sinned (Romans 3:23).
Each person is responsible for their soul. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Paul wrote that all must appear in judgment to receive the things done in his body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). The only way back to God from sin is in Christ.
God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12) that in him, all nations would be blessed. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus, for it is in him that we have redemption (Ephesians 1:7).
God’s way back to him is by being baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:27). He wants man to be saved; he has provided the only sacrifice that can procure salvation (Acts 4:12).
The way back to God has been provided. Why not accept it and be saved? Believe in Christ, repent of your sins, confess that Jesus is the son of God before men, be baptized for the remission of your sins and God will add you to his church (Acts 2:47), then live faithfully (Revelation 2:10).
Take the way back.