A REAL EYE-OPENER

A Real Eye-Opener

            

In the shadow of the tree of the forbidden fruit the subtle serpent struck up a conversation with a woman. True, even in Eve’s day serpents couldn’t ordinarily talk. However, this particular snake was charmed by the master-illusionist himself. So the snake-handler said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree in the garden?”’ Genesis 3:1. Then, as a boa constrictor tightens its coils on its victim’s every exhaled breath, so the serpent out-crafted Eve’s every breathed-out reply. Barred by God from eating fruit from one of the trees in His Garden? Can’t you see Eve? God’s Law is too restrictive! ‘So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked…’

              In the shadow of the tree of the fruit of grace the serpent’s head was crushed under the weight of the Saviour’s bleeding heel. Jesus, having paid by His life and death the price God’s justice demanded for Adam’s federal sin was laid in a tomb. Then, on the third day – to the sound of angels’ wings clapping – the tomb emptied itself of its solitary occupant. Thus, on the first day of the week the foundation stone was laid for the New Creation.  But who besides the angels would believe it?

              Late afternoon of the same day two of Jesus’ wider disciples, walking to Emmaus, talked about the crucifixion, the empty tomb, and the angels. In their sad wilderness, with bridled eyes they didn’t recognize that it was the Rock Himself who had drawn near and was walking with them. Chiding them for the gloom of not believing the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms their hearts burned within them as He showed them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

When Adam and Eve partook of the table of demons and ate that which the Lord had forbidden their hearts immediately froze within them. Their eyes were opened, and in the gloaming-gloom they saw their own nakedness. Thus the god of this age has blinded us all through his dialogue with Eve – who also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6b; 2 Corinthians 4:4). As those who tested Christ in the wilderness were destroyed by serpents, so we were destroyed when Adam covenanted with the serpent and with death. (Isaiah 28:15,18; Matthew 12:34; 23:33; John 8:44; I Corinthians 10:9). ‘But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.’ 2 Corinthians 3:14-16.

Christ alone lifts sin’s death-shroud from us and raises us, and we become part of His new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Having expounded the Scriptures to the two men on the road to Emmaus, ‘It came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”’ Luke 24:30-32.

Dear reader, has the Lord thawed-out your frozen heart through His opening the Scriptures to you? Has He opened your eyes for you to know Him? Or are you still living in darkness, so blind that you don’t even believe that there is a devil? If so, you can’t blame the devil for your unbelief because, a) You don’t even believe he exists. And b) God holds you responsible for your actions. But here’s the good news.

As the Lord said of John Baptizer – the last of the Old Testament prophets – ‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ Luke 1:76-79.

Don’t sit in the darkness and the shadow of death any longer. Come to the Light. And may the Dayspring lift the veil from your eyes so that you can know Him, and may He be pleased to guide your feet into the way of peace.