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Eden Lost

Words of Faith Final

Eden Lost
Words of Faith 9-17-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 8
 [20] For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
    [22] We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [23] Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? [25] But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

     We really cannot imagine Eden. It is quite beyond us. We might picture the loveliest garden in our experience, but it would be a neglected and destitute place by comparison.  Eden was pristine in every way, but particularly in that it had no death and no decay.  
     In Eden, it was a place and time of perfection. Fruit did not spoil. Leaves did not decay.  Cells did not age, nor did they mutate on a cancerous rampage. But Eden was ended with "the fall."
     With the Fall, Creation was subjected to the frustration of decay because of the choice of man to sin. We may marvel at the beauty of creation even in its fallen state with the brilliant colors of fall, the barrenness of winter, the budding of spring, and the richness of summer. Still, all of this actually expresses the frustration of creation. All creation hopes for liberation from its bondage to death and decay.
     With the arrival of sin, humanity became subject to this same decay. We gaze into the mirror and see the relentless ravages of time. We are subject to the effects of the fallen world, and like leaves, we slowly dry and fall. Our bodies are a mortal seed planted to await a springtime yet to come. The very best health regimen, medical care, and cosmetology can only slow the process ever so slightly. All the surgery, vitamins, and exercise in the world cannot reverse the decay that sin has put in place. The only redemption is that which comes from God.
     And so, we humans also groan inwardly for the redemption that is to come-- the liberation from the bondage of decay that will take place in the redemption of our decaying bodies. We have the firstfruits of this redemption in Jesus Himself. He is the hope of all creation that the cycle of decay will indeed end. Lost humanity groans inwardly awaiting adoption as children of God. Redeemed humanity waits patiently for the resurrection that is to come.  We hope for what we already have but cannot yet see.   

      O God, come quickly to redeem Your creation. Give me patience in the wait. Give me grace to share the Good News with those who groan for a redemption they do not even know.  In Jesus' name.  

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.