God Took All the Steps

One year we had our end of the school year party at a country house on a large
diary farm in my hometown. Some of us wandered around, and just in time came upon a cow delivering a calf. What a spectacle for a 14 year old. Just a few minutes out of womb, and the calf was on its feet --yes, walking. He struggled, but with his mother's help, he was on his way. At a recent church party, one of my friends brought her 9-month son. The father held him for a while, but then the baby became restless. As he became fidgety, I took over, and made him stand on the table. To all of our amazement, he began to take steps. How excited and amazed we were at the baby's progress-- he was walking! Naturally, our conversation revolved around the baby, and how long it would take him to walk without outside support. Yes, friends, we were watching those first steps.

The _expression “first steps” is also used metaphorically to describe someone taking the initiative toward doing something, such as: starting or restoring a project or relationship. When it comes to God and man, the Bible says God took the first steps. In Genesis 3:9,10 we read:

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid,
because I was naked; and I hid myself.

And, just as God went out looking for Adam, He comes looking for us. Sinners do not look for God. When they do, it is because they are responding by God's power, to the gift He is giving them. Both the power to respond, and the desire to do so are His gift to us. When we accept and receive the gift of His Holy Spirit -- even though He may be largely unbeknownst to us -- we are enabled by His power.

When we use the _expression, “God took the first step,” we assume Adam took the second step. Yet, as we continue reading the passage, we realize that God spoke and did everything. On the contrary, Adam listened to God and received from Him. In submitting to God, Adam was enabled to listen more closely, and hear more clearly with a willingness to do. Brothers and sisters, Adam did not meet God half-way; there was no negotiation or compromise. It was God who did everything. Adam was the grateful recipient --- of God’s love, grace and mercy. Yes, Adam would have to do some things, but it was in response to God’s act of mercy. It was not to call God’s attention and favor to himself. Adam already had God's attention, and His favor, because God loved him unconditionally. So we see that God not only took the first step, He took all the steps.

When God foresaw Sin, He immediately met in council with the Son and the Holy Spirit as to how to deal with it. In that meeting it was determined that the Son would pay the Sinner’s debt. God took the first steps from the foundation of the world, which according to Revelation 13:8, is when the Lamb was slain. The restoring of man would cost God everything and would be a gift to man. All man had to do, was receive it.

This is great news, for we are that man -- Adam. We exist through his lineage, as mankind. Thank God that Salvation does not depend on us. It is certain and complete because God takes all the steps. Won't you receive His gift personally, today?

The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/

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