The F.A.L.L - Martin Wiles

So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. Genesis 3:6 NLT

Other than being bitten by a snake or mauled by a bear, I feared it more than anything else.

Hiking in the mountains carries the risk of falling. Roots liter any trail hiked in the Southern Appalachians because forests cover most of the mountains. Stumping a toe on them is painful. Mixed in with the roots are rocks. On some trails, they cover the entire trail. Twisting an ankle is easy. And steep cliffs bank many of the trails.

Falling when I was young didn’t bother me. I never broke a bone. But when I was in my early twenties and fell, I did. Bones get more brittle as we age—and I had. I’ve fallen only a couple of times since then and fortunately didn’t break anything.

Tripping over a root or rock and then falling could have meant a broken knee or hip or a twisted ankle. Falling off the side of the mountain could mean death. Luckily, I only fell once while hiking and that was on the trail. My pack broke my fall, keeping me from breaking anything else.

Adam and Eve experienced a fall of a different kind. The Bible doesn’t use the word, FALL, but their story—and many others throughout the Bible—imply the message. Instead of breaking a limb, they broke something more important: their relationship with God.

God didn’t want a bunch of robots running around, forced to worship Him, so He gave humans Freedom. Although God created us for His pleasure—and because He wanted fellowship with us—He still wanted us to choose to return what He desired.

Freedom involves Action. Adam and Eve chose a rebellious act. Although I’m not responsible for their sin, the sin nature they inherited when they disobeyed God has been transferred to every person born since then. 

While I have good in me, my rebellious bent shows up in various ways. The Bible calls my state, Lost.

But Love led God to pursue me—and everyone else. He did so by allowing His Son to pay for my sin. Then He sent His Spirit to convict me of my need for forgiveness. If I choose to accept it, He grants forgiveness and frees me to be the person He created me to be.

You have fallen, but God wants to pick you up. Why not let Him.

Prayer: Father, we praise You for Your grace and mercy that provides a way for our restoration.

Tweetable: Has God rescued you?

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