Relationship

For the first 25 verses of Genesis chapter one we learn about what God created. He created the heavens and the earth, light and darkness, water and animals and plants, not necessarily in that order. After each day of creation we learn that "God saw that it was good." However in verse 26 something interesting happens. For 25 verses there has been this ambiguous "God" that is powerful and ominous, but in verse 26 he becomes personal. It reads, "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Did you catch it? Why all of a sudden are we able to relate to God? Well, there is the obvious. We now understand as we read that as people we are created in God's image. Therefore, it follows we glimpse a picture of what He might look like. Of course we all look different. Different colors, shapes and sizes. Then there is the whole fact that male and female are created in his image. I mean, "What?" But, that is a discussion for another day entirely. However, it is not because we look like God that He comes a little closer to us. As a matter of fact it is that small word, right there: us. "Let US make God in our image." It is the baseline of all relationship. As the God of the universe creates a being with which He can have relationship, we see that God himself is in relationship. We are not created in the image of a God with one face. Instead, a God that is three in one. A God that is in constant relationship with himself, Father, Son, Spirit. So from the start of creation He begins His love affair with relationship. His entire ministry is about relationship.

It was not good for man to be alone. Therefore, God's design was for marriage. We are not meant to be alone even in life. Woman was created for man, and man comes from a woman. The relationship is inseparable. Daily the man and the woman walked with their Lord. Then sin entered the world. They ate of the fruit of the "forbidden" tree and their eyes were open to shame. Most horridly though death entered our world, "And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." (Genesis 3:22) Thus came separation from God. Relationship was broken. Through sacrifice of our labors we attempted to crawl back over a broken chasm. Yet, it was shattered so horrifically that his creation was all but wiped out to start over with only the family of Noah.

The Lord came back initiated relationship with Abraham to choose a people to follow him. Death may have separated us, but not forever. Then the years rolled and He introduced the 10 commandments and all the rules and regulations for His people to be set apart from the rest. He longed to restore the way that it was meant to be. There were priests and blood sacrifices and a place where a minimal number of the chosen could go to experience communion with God. However, it wasn't the same. It was merely a glimpse of what was intended.

A Messiah is promised. In the greatest act of compassion of all time, this God who created us comes to earth as a baby. More so for the only moment in history, God breaks relationship with himself. He hangs on a cross for our sake. In being fully God and fully man, he must die in order to take on all of our sin. He cries out, "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ""Eloi, Eloi," "lama" "sabachthani?""--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Essentially, Jesus is crying out- "Why? Why do I have to be alone?" Many scholars actually believe that he is quoting Psalm 22 which states many prophesies that Christ fulfilled by his death on this cross. You can read that in full here . Just days before the cross Jesus asked, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." He was wrestling. But, not because he was avoiding earthly pain. he knew that this would be gone in a moment. No instead it was the knowledge that separation was upon him. For our sake, He broke relationship. For our benefit so that relationship might be restored once and for all. "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 22:43-46) The curtain tore. We were given access to God. Relationship was restored, now it was our choice.

We have not made our way back to the garden, but if we accept this outstretched hand then we can have relationship with God. In his resurrection right relationship was restored to the God head.

As we look at the journey of relationship, how can we not miss how important, no vital it is to God. He has constant relationship with himself. He would deny this only out of an unconditional love for us. Therefore, how can we do anything less than approach all that we do with Him and for Him from a place of relationship? If it comes first with our God, it MUST come first with us...