THERE are three distinct aspects in which Scripture speaks of man. I desire to look a little at each of them. First, ―
Innocence.
How bright the picture of man and his circumstances that we have traced for us in Genesis 1, 2. He is not merely the noblest of all God’s creatures, but in his Very being he is different. When God made the other creatures, He had but to speak, and it was; to command, and it stood fast. But when man was in question, there was counsel: ― “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” In that he stands alone.
Then, again, look at man’s place in creation, as set forth in these words, “Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing.” What a position! What an inheritance! What a noble being was man, as created in the image and likeness of God! What an exalted position was his, as set over all the works of God’s hands! Such was man, and such his place in creation.
In Genesis 2:19, 2019And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:19‑20). we see man installed in his place, and God is the first to own him in that place; for He brings all the creatures He had made to Adam, and he gives them their names. What a sight to gaze upon! The creature filling his place according to God, and God owning him in that place. Man perfectly happy. Not a fear in his heart, not a misgiving in his mind, as God draws nigh to him. How interesting all this is! And all the more interesting, because it is gone; and gone, never to return. How dark and terrible the contrast between man then and man now! Instead of being lord of creation, having dominion over all things, he is the miserable slave of circumstances, eating his bread by the sweat of his brow. Instead of being happy with God, he is full of fear at the very thought of meeting Him. On every hand suffering meets the eye, and groans salute the ear. What has wrought all this sad, sad change? Can you account for it, proud man, with all your knowledge? Can you, with all your wondrous discoveries, provide a remedy for it? Can you hush the groans of creation, and dry up the tears of a suffering race? Can you arrest the onward march of the king of terrors? You cannot? Why not then listen to God’s account of it, and accept His remedy?
Now, let us turn and look at the next aspect, ―
Guilt.
There all was peace, joy, and gladness. Here all is fear and terror. Why? Reader, your conscience tells you why, ―they had sinned. They had given up God for the creature. But He will not give them up. He becomes a seeker; man is a hider. God’s “Where art thou?” is answered by Adam in these words, ― “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Surely, if we saw man in all the joy and blessedness of innocence in chapters 2, here we see him in all the helpless, hopeless misery of sin and guilt. And is it not the same to this very hour? Is there any one that man so much dreads to meet as God? Were I asked to prove that man is a sinner, I would put in as conclusive proof, that he is afraid of God. Reader, is your heart at perfect rest as you think of that holy Lord God? Think of it, exposed to death every moment, and afraid to meet God, ― what a condition to be in!
Well now, we have seen man in innocence, and enjoying its blessedness for a little season; and we have seen him in guilt, and dreading its consequences forever. Let me ask you, can you do aught to help yourself in such a case? Man soon began to try and repair the mischief. They made themselves aprons of fig-leaves, and they were satisfied with each other’s doings, like thousands today. But, whenever God’s voice was heard, they forgot all about their aprons, and said they were naked. What! naked with their fig-leaf aprons on? Yes; and it is still true. Thousands are working away at their aprons, ―I am doing my best, I am striving, I am a member of a church, I take the sacrament, I give to the cause of Christ, ―but, in spite of all, when the thought of meeting God comes before them, they are afraid, all their doings give them no comfort. Could you conceive of a sadder picture, than the creature afraid of and hiding from the Creator? What thoughts must have passed through Adam’s mind as he crouched among the trees of the garden What dark forebodings must have been his! And that in the presence of perfect helplessness. Oh, unsaved reader, will you be warned by all this? If, after all the warnings, all the entreaties, all the privileges and opportunities you have had, you meet God in your sins, what misery will be yours, ― what endless remorse!
Now, let us look at what Scripture tells us of man in
Grace.
What a fine picture of this we have in Genesis 3:2121Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21). “Unto Adam also, and to his wife, did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” They had just proved the utter worthlessness of their own doings, but now they are clothed by God Himself.
Reader, try and picture to yourself what Adam’s experiences were when hiding among the trees of the garden, and what they must have been as he stood before the Lord God, clothed in God’s own provision for him. Oh, how different Every time that his eye rested upon his coat, his heart would go out to God, ―that God he had deeply grieved and dishonored; and its language would be, “Oh, I know God better now than I knew Him when an innocent man. Then I knew Him as Creator, but now I know Him as Redeemer.” At the same time, he could never forget the terrible consequences of his sin; the memorial of it was ever before him, in that very coat wherewith he was clothed, for it was a skin. A victim must die, life must be given up,—ere the naked rebel sinner could be clothed.
How this speaks to us of the death of God’s beloved Son. No hope for guilty man can be, except one be found to bear his sins, and meet the claims of God. But oh, wondrous grace, God Himself has met my need. He has provided the Victim, which at once meets the claims of His throne, vindicates His majesty, and puts away my sins. The very Lamb whose blood has blotted out all my sins, is Himself my righteousness. He who knew no sin, was made sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). The believer can say, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength” (Isa. 45:2424Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (Isaiah 45:24)). How blessed Righteousness to fit me for God’s presence, and strength to bring me there.
Let us for one moment go back and see how Adam got into this wondrous position of grace. Brought out from his hiding-place, he tries to excuse himself, by saying, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
Then the woman blames the serpent (how like ourselves this is, making miserable shifts, instead of owning the truth), and God, in pronouncing the serpent’s doom, tells of the deliverer. The woman’s seed should bruise the serpent’s head. This was the one ray of light and hope, kindled by God Himself, that Adam laid hold of. No sooner had God ceased speaking those sad, terrible words, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” than Adam opens his mouth, and gives a name to the only creature he had not already named. He called his wife’s name Eve, i.e., living. God, in His last words, spoke of death, and now Adam speaks of life. What presumption! you say. Ah! God did not think so; for at once He crowns his faith by clothing him with the coat of skins. Blessed faith; wondrous grace. Reader, Innocence is gone.
Where are you, ―in your sins or in Christ? Guilt or grace it must be. G. R.