Things Aren't as They Appear

By: Donny Hymer

Have the last few days been rather confusing? High temperatures have been reaching into the 70’s…the weeds are looking green and healthy…the buds on the trees are beginning to open…the jonquils are blooming. Seems like the calendar should read April or May, but it’s only February! Is it spring?

Even though all the indicators of spring are indicating that it’s spring, winter is probably not over just yet. The “truth” will be known today about how much longer winter will last when Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his hole and makes his prediction…or will it? (The groundhog is only accurate 39% of the time. The truth is flipping a coin on Groundhog’s Day to predict the weather would be more accurate.)

Things aren’t always as they appear. It’s been that way from the beginning. In Genesis 3, when the serpent came to Eve in the garden to tempt her, he made it appear as if God was withholding something good, something desirable, something that would give her great wisdom. He made it appear as if God did not want Adam and Eve to eat this fruit because when they did they would become like God. Were they not already more like God than any of the creation that God had created? (Genesis 1:27)

Sin has a way of making things appear one way when they are really not that way at all. It questions why God has set certain rules in order (most of which are for our own good) and challenges us to step beyond those boundaries. The knowledge that sin brings results in shame and fear in the presence of God. Ultimately it leads to judgment and separation from God (eternal death).

Praise God…things aren’t as they appear! It would seem that at this point man is hopelessly and helplessly lost in sin. Even in Genesis 3, we see the plan of redemption already at work. First, we see in the cursing of the serpent that there will come an offspring from the woman who will bruise the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:16). That one is Jesus! Second, we see God providing a way to cover Adam and Eve’s shame by making garments of skins for them to wear. This shows us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus would come and be that blood sacrifice for our sins.

So what’s the key to living in a world where Satan disguises the truth for a lie and makes things seem one way when it is really another? The answer is found in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”