The Fall Deepens (iii)
The environment is not the problem. The Lord put man in a perfect environment and he still sinned. If the environment was the problem, then the Lord would have needed to just redeem the environment and not man. The Lord gave authority over the environment to man. When man is redeemed, man will then be able to properly relate to, and change his environment. This is simply a matter of putting the proverbial horse in front of the cart where it belongs.
Practically speaking, we should always view problems with our situation, or environment, and highlight the things that are wrong with us that needs to be changed. Because God\’s purpose is to fully redeem and restore us from the consequences of the Fall, we should always first look for the answer to our problems as a needed change in us. In almost every case the answer can be summed up in one word, “love.” As we are told in 1 Cor 13:8, “Love never fails.” Love will always be found at the root of every solution. If we would love more, it would change most of the situations that we view as our problems.
The Lord began changing the world by loving it enough to die for it. We can also begin changing our world when we begin loving those around us enough to lay down our lives and our self-interests for their sakes. Instead of blame-shifting, let us acknowledge our own sin, taking responsibility for it, and seek the grace of God to love those around us, instead of blaming them for our problems. When we begin to truly love in this way, paradise will begin to return.
- Africa was the first continent where God revealed himself as the owner of the earth and its fullness (Ps 24). However, it is on this continent that pharaoh first asked, “Who is this King of glory?”
- When God revealed Himself as the Lord strong and mighty in battle, Pharaoh, Egypt and by extension the continent of Africa rejected Him. This is the second chance and season. God who said He would turn around the fortunes of Africa has allowed the jitters that began some months ago to become violent shakings and pulling down of old structures of the gods of Egypt and foundations of this continent and lay out a new foundation.
- This is the second chance for this continent to embrace the Lord strong and mighty in battle, the Lord of Hosts as our King of glory. Pray that you, your family, church, nation and the continent will not miss this second chance to submit to the Lord (Ps 24, Ps 33:12, 144:15).