Sunday, June 16, 2019

Love in the Covenant (GL04)

    'Appreciating God's Love'

A)  Adamic Covenant
Gen 2:16-17  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
    God told Adam that he can eat all the fruits in the garden of Eden including the tree of life, the fruit of which will give him eternal life. But he must not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The day that he partakes of the forbidden fruit, he will surely die (cannot partake from the fruit of life anymore).
    God made this covenant with Adam so that as long as he does not eat the forbidden fruit, he can enjoy eternal life.
    This Adamic Covenant was the good and perfect gifts from God, the Father.
Jam 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

B) God was their Head
    When God gave the command for Adam and Eve to keep, He had established Himself as their Head or Lord. So when Adam and Eve accepted His command, the Adamic Covenant was in force.
    Adam and Eve were delighted that God made Himself their Head in this covenant. For He was always helping them in picking their delicious fruits high on the trees, carry and caring for them while riding wild elephants, horses, big birds...
    With their unfailing and perfect love for God, they would not hurt Him by breaking the covenant in eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge.

C)  Confidence with Covenant
I John 3:18-21  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
    With this covenant, every time the Lord God Almighty comes down for fellowship, Adam and Eve would be delighted for they had the confidence that God was pleased with them for they had kept His commandment. With this assurance they looked forward to a wonderful fellowship with Him.

Gangsterism during my Teens
    In the fifties, gangsterism was popular. Most students were involved. My parents forbid me to be involved. I was threatened by schoolmates. Against all types of threats, I kept my parents' command. Whenever I see my parents, I was filled with confidence and joy for my assurance to them brought joyful tears in their eyes.

Covenants of God are covenants of love. They give us the assurance of His approvals, pleasures and love. They also fill us with joy, faith and fulfillment for being able to keep them.