Let’s begin, and what better place to start than at the beginning with the first man who ever lived… ADAM!
The Bible says very little about the life of Adam; however one of the first things that we know is that the creation of man was different to everything else that took place prior. Why do I say that? Well look at the Genesis 1: 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24. Every act of creation was prefaced by three words followed by a command:
And God said…let there be.
Yet when it came to the creation of man the act of creation moved from being unilateral to a discussion.
And God said, let us… (Genesis 1:26)
So the beginning of man is marked by its distinction from the rest of creation. Adam is created in the image and likeness of God himself. His body contains the very breath of God. He is given dominion over all life on earth. How many men could take over a major company with no training? Yet God turned over an entire world to this man. Once he was created, God put Adam to work.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)
How long Adam faithfully carried out his duties alone we do not know. We do know that there came a time when Adam realised he was alone.
…but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:20)
After this God causes sleep to fall on Adam, a rib is removed, and Eve is made. From here we know the story well, how Eve is deceived by the serpent, and partakes of the tree of Good and Evil, giving Adam some of its fruit to eat. Of the change that befell them after eating.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25)
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; (Genesis 3:7)
The bible goes on to tell us that when God came down to the garden in the cool of the day, that both Adam and Eve hid themselves in fear. When confronted by God, Adam proceeds to blame both Eve and God…
And the man [ADAM] said, the woman [EVE] whom thou [GOD] gavest to be with me… (Genesis 3:12)
Eve following after her husband blames the serpent…
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat… (Genesis 3:13)
God’s response to what has taken place?
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (Genesis 3:14)
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (Genesis 3:16 -17)
Adam and Eve would be expelled from the Garden to live beyond its pleasure and safety. They would never again know the joy of face to face communion with God as they had before. Eve would give birth to a son Cain who would in a fit of jealous rage kill his younger brother Abel. No more would be spoken of Adam until he was mentioned in the genealogy in Genesis 5 where we would be told that he and his wife Eve had many children and that he died at the age of nine hundred and thirty years old.
So what are the lessons that Adam can teach men of today.
1. Every Man Is Unique In God’s Plan
It does not matter what your background is, just as Adam’s creation was distinct from that of the rest of creation so you too, are unique in God’s overall plan of redemption. He has called you for a purpose it is your job to find out what that is and fulfil your mission.
2. No Man Is An Island
You cannot make it on your own. Even Adam realised that he needed someone. Jesus’ prayer was that we would work together as one (John 17:20-21). But even when working together we must always be aware of those who would use the people around us to bring us down.
3. Nature Abhors a Vacuum
When God created Adam he didn’t put him in the garden to sunbathe, God put him to work. It was easy work, true, but it was work. But God also gave Adam instruction to have dominion in other words he was to rule and take care of everything that God had created that included Eve. Eve’s place was as a helpmeet. She was there to help Adam. He was there to lead Eve. When he failed to lead… the serpent stepped in and led her to sin.
4. Don’t Blame Others For Your Mistakes
It is sad to say that the blame game is still going on… even today. As a man, be ready to be held accountable for your mistakes, and ready to learn from them. We may never know what would have happened if Adam had answered God and confessed his wrong immediately. We do know what happened when he chose to not take responsibility for what had taken place.
5. Failure Is Not The End
Eve would give birth to Cain and Abel, and from what God does when they give their offerings we can conclude that Adam learned from his mistakes and taught his sons the correct way to worship God. That Cain did not listen does not mark this as a failure to Adam.
So what does all this teach us as men?
Adam shows us human failure, sin, and our need for a Saviour. He teaches us that even when we fail we can still come good and teach those who follow the right way… whether they take it or not. Adam was a perfect creation, yet Adam failed. If Adam, who was perfect, could fail… then what can be said about us?
Mostly what Adam teaches us is that even when we fail we serve a loving God who will make a way for us to come back. As men we are not perfect, we will make mistakes, we will fail, we will sin…
But GOD… has promised to never leave or forsake us, just as he never forsook Adam.
Maybe you are feeling that you can’t make it, but remember that while God punished Adam he did not forsake or forget him.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)
I encourage you all that whatever failures you may face you can overcome. You are called to serve, not to be perfect.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; (Isaiah 53:6)
Remember the shame is not in falling… it’s in staying down.
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: (Proverbs 24:16)
May God bless and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you and grant you Peace.
MARANATHA
