Once upon a time, when everything was good, man was created, and he saw that there was no helper fit for him. A deep sleep and a misplaced rib later, and the perfect counterpart appeared. Then, a temptation led to a fall, which sparked an excuse and an argument, followed by exile, and hard labour, and then, after some time, two brothers were born. On and on disharmony grew, brother against brother, children against their fathers and mothers, continuing on until the present day. We know it’s wrong, and we often know quite adamantly what other people should do about it, sometimes we’ll even resolve to do something ourselves, or possibly we just hope to return that once upon a time, when everything was good.
Have you heard the news? About the other once upon a time? The sky turned dark, a woman cried, and a man denied his friend three times, and the Son of man died. A darker day could hardly be conceived, but then, the miracle of miracles happened, and the same man rose again, with an encouragement and a command, “Peace be with you.” Did he not know what men are like? They squabble, they scorn, they hate, and they fight; how could he expect peace from those who descended from that man, the one born once upon a time, when everything was good.
“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” said that same man, the Son of God, then commissioning the very friend who denied him to do so, the one who himself had argued, and scorned, and fought, an example for all of us who struggle to make peace on earth, despite that very same calling. Life here on earth will never be perfect, spotless, or easy, because of the heritage of the first man, but because of the second, the greater, the omega, we can be sure that one day we’ll say to him, “you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom”
Once upon a time, when everything was good, God walked in the garden, where man once stood, and knew of the time, one day ahead, when the Son of God would come, to die in our stead.
Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing young men and women discipled within the context of the local church. You can find Adsum through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk and you can also find Adsum’s articles for GCD here.
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Last Chance! Insufficient Pastors, Sufficient Savior
Tuesday, September 26, 9:30-10:30PM
Are you a pastor that is tired and weary? Are you going to be at TGC 2023? Do you carry a feeling of being inadequate and insufficient for ministry? Join three pastors and authors, Jonathan Dodson (Unwavering Pastor), Ronnie Martin (Art of Pastoring), and Jeremy Writebol (Pastor, Jesus is Enough), as they aim to encourage and equip pastors and Christian leaders through a series of conversations about our calling, ministry, and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ for the church and our lives.
For more information, head to the GCD Website: