‘From Eden … to the Cross!’

Almost everybody has at least heard of “the ten commandments,” even if very few can tell you what they are!  The original movie hit the theatres in 1956, depicting God speaking to Moses on the top of Mt. Sinai and writing the commandments in stone with a “finger of fire!” It was all quite dramatic, but it could not compare to the actual scene described in Exodus 19-20. At Mt. Sinai the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob revealed His power and glory to His people in a way that caused fear in the hearts of all who saw it! If only people could see that scene today … but apart from the Holy Spirit they would be like the people of Israel, cowering in fear and then going on with their lives of disobedience, complaining and apathy. Only those whose minds are opened and whose hearts are changed are able to come to an understanding of the purpose of God’s Law, and then to respond by confessing their sin and placing their faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, the “Seed of Abraham.” We who are so blessed by God to have received new birth by the work of His Spirit through the Gospel are enabled and empowered to turn from sin to righteousness … to see the glory of God in His commandments and more, to desire to keep them!! And though we still struggle with the old nature of sin, we find comfort and peace and strength and joy in knowing that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross assures us of the grace and forgiveness that is ours by faith. God is at work IN us for HIS glory, and fear is replaced with love! We are, of all people, most blessed!!