Day 16

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!… (verse 34)

– Romans 11:33-34

In the Garden of Eden, life was simple: it was God and the first and second of humanity; simple, but with more spiritual depth than we can comprehend today. Most of us well up with tears just scratching the surface of God’s deep love, but for Adam and Eve that depth was all they knew. God literally walked in the Garden with them (Genesis 3:8).

Unfortunately, after some time, sin found its way into their lives. This sin produced for Adam and Eve an earthly care: the first of its kind. Adam and Eve’s simple life just lost its perfect simplicity. Now they had to expend resources on the consequence of their sin. So began the pursuit of earthly things: Adam and Eve tending to their sin-consequence, trying to make it less difficult to deal with so that life would be a little easier for them and their children. Fortunately, God was there to help, and life was better for their children, for a time.

Cain and Abel grew strong in the gifts God gave them and they inherited a good dose of the spiritual depth of their parents. Cain, it seemed, had less of it, as he sought the life of his brother over a small matter. Even after he took Abel’s life, Cain had enough depth to hear God’s audible voice, but it was another sin among humanity, another consequence, another earthly care to tend to, and another chunk of time and resources to divert from time with the Lord.

Unlike Adam and Eve, Cain did not allow God to help him with his sin-consequences. Though he needed God even more than Adam and Eve when they sinned, Cain condemned himself to living with his sin apart from God, multiplying the burden of its consequences. For thousands of years, humanity has continued in this pattern: everyone sinning, some allowing God to help them overcome sin, others rejecting His help and living in condemnation, and still others refusing to acknowledge any of this in the first place.

But the Holy Spirit is here, just waiting in the depths for our repentant hearts. And Jesus has opened the floodgates of these depths for all who would seek Him out. If you are among those that have sought the Lord with all your heart and found Him, then perhaps it’s time for you to seek out the hearts of those who haven’t.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13. See also Matthew 25:34-45.

Pursue your purpose in Him,

Anthony B.