Pastor’s Thoughts – 08/23/2026

In Genesis we read of our beginnings of life through our parents Adam and Eve. It was in the perfect environment of the garden where one simple restriction was addressed to them. “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17). This was the most important issue not only for our parents, but for us. We know that Satan deceived Eve, and that Adam went along with her and did precisely what God commanded them not to do. God did not immediately require their physical death, but drove them from the garden, pronounced a curse upon them and their environment, and they then began their journey toward death. God stated, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you. And you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:17-19).

In our day and age, which has been characterized by incredible advances in technology and medicine, we are yet on the same journey toward death that was originally described to our first parents. We are born after them as sinners with a nature blinded by our sin and in opposition to God. Today, in our culture, God and His Word have been replaced by foolish ideas of evolution and concepts of psychology to guide people through life. God is not found in the thinking of most. Yet as God has stated through the writer of Hebrews, “It has been destined for men to die, and after comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Without an understanding of who we really are by nature, and the journey of death that each of us, the offspring of condemned sinners are on, the tendency is to live without any comprehension of why things are the way they are. Even though we have so many conveniences, and so many advances to support or lessen the strains upon our lives, we are still on our tough and dying journeys. The Bible alone gives us the answer to our dilemma, but most are unaware of what the Bible says, or if they have read it, most outright reject it. Among those born in Adam, no one has nor will be able to solve or overcome the journey of every person eventuating in death.

As a senior citizen myself, I have witnessed the struggles of our journey and personally experienced it. I have repeatedly watched dear ones with severe troubles pass away. Each time this occurs, questions appear as to why? The issue of fairness arises among those remaining who are yet on the same journey. Once again, the Bible alone addresses this matter dating back to the curse of which we find ourselves. By our experience there are many blessings along our cursed journey, and special times of happiness and celebration. It is a more reasonable question to ask; Since we are under a curse, why is every day not a day of absolute misery? The answer comes again from the Bible. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). The benefits of living even under the curse are given to us by God. He is gracious to His sinful enemies so that along their journey there are many blessings and times of happiness, and so much so that He gives and gives and gives.

Importantly, let us be reminded that in our complete unworthiness, and in our appointment with death, God is gracious to everyone. All the blessings that we have encountered have come from His hand. And of the greatest importance is that He has provided us the only means out of our incurable and inevitable dying situation. He has given us the gift above all gifts. He has provided a Savior – a substitute to pay the penalty for our sins. He is the perfect gift! The substitute for our sins is even the very Son of God Himself. He has for those in Him removed completely the penalty that belongs to everyone born in Adam. I love the words of Paul, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:54-55). He then goes on to correctly and powerfully state, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

And what is the result of that victory? We know from the very promises found throughout Scripture that for those who trust and follow God’s Son, there is eternal life. This is a glorious blissful life forever blessed in the presence of God. So, we can sing Hallelujah, what a Savior, and will sing it forever. Though now we are engaged in our difficult journey, we that are in Christ can have all confidence in God who holds our future. He has promised us a place where every tear shall be wiped away, and there will be no more sorrow or death. All these terribly difficult things we presently experience in our fallen world will pass away (Rev. 21:4). This is what lies ahead because of His grace to us who simply believe in Him resulting in saving faith. Praise His wonderful name!