The Path That Leads Home
Adam and Eve clothing themselves with fig leaves was not the answer to finding their way back to the Father. The key was seen in God clothing them with animal skins where the shedding of blood had to take place. This act showed the severity of their transgressions and what needed to take place in the future in order that their relationship with God could be restored.
Cain’s offering to Yahweh their God from the fruit of the ground was like the fig leaves of Adam and Eve. Abel offering the firstborn of his flock tied in with what God did when he clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins and was a shadow of things to come.
Heb 11:4 says by faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. WEB
Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. WEB
- It is impossible to please God without faith in him and what he has planned for us.
- Eve, not having faith in God and his plan for her brought forth separation, death and sorrow.
- Our faith in God’s plan to bring us back into fellowship with him will bring life and goodness back into our lives.
The account of Abraham being willing to offer up Isaac in Genesis 22 is a further revelation to how God would redeem and restore man to himself.
Heb 11:17-19 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; 18 even he to whom it was said, “In Isaac will your seed be called;”19 accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. WEB
James 2:21-23 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;” and he was called the friend of God. WEB
- All the right words spoken in a relationship will only bring disappointment and sorrow if they are never carried out with actions.
Genesis 5:24 says that Enoch walked with God. Enoch made spending time with God a priority in his life. He was willing to walk out his relationship with his God.
Ps 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 But his delight is in Yahweh’s law; On his law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish. WEB
- A good and moral relationship is not only based on what we do but also on what we do not do.
Heb 11:5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
Heb 11:7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. WEB
Gen 6:8-9 But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes.9 This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. WEB
2 Peter 2:5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; WEB
Ps 11:7 For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face. WEB
Ps 34:15-22 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves those who have a crushed spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned. WEB
Heb 11:24-27 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. WEB
2 Cor 4:5-6 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake; 6 seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. WEB
- Moses started man on the path back to the Father and Jesus is the end of that path that brings us to that destination.
1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; WEB
- The destination that Jesus leads us to is that of a meaningful relationship with the Father.
Eph 2:11-22 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” (in the flesh, made by hands); 12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. WEB
The path back to the Father was completed by Jesus Christ. The question we need to ask ourselves is, are we willing to travel that path? Will we continue on that path until we reach the destination? Will we be sidetracked on a path that will lead us in a wrong direction? Will we go all the way until we see him face to face or will we remain at a distance? The choice is ours; we can enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with God our heavenly Father or we can end up settling for less than what he desires for us.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. WEB
1 Chron 16:11 Seek you Yahweh and his strength; Seek his face forever more. WEB
By Clint Griffith