Recently, an acquaintance expressed some rather disparaging opinions about relationships on a social media site and it drew my thoughts back to the Garden of Eden.  I admit that I am divorced and have made some poor relationship choices in the past so I can, to some degree, understand his frustration though my perspective comes from a female point of view.  However, in the long run the only point of view that matters is God’s and the fact that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

            The breakdown in relationships began at the beginning of human history when Adam blamed God and the woman for his predicament while Eve blamed the tempter and the temptation—from the very beginning, mankind has wrestled with guilt and the ability to say “I did it” while being complicit in disobeying God.  It is much easier to focus on the offenses of others than recognize the anger, bitterness, or rebellion in ourselves.  Yet how can we possibly expect fallen human nature to behave any differently than that nature dictates—both in expectations we have of other people, or in ourselves?

            It is easy to think, “I am better than that” without recognizing that we are no better than “that”.  Every person has his or her own strengths and vulnerabilities and oddly, we tend to be critical of the weaknesses we see in others that mirror our own.  Or we fall captive to a spirit of pride that whispers, “Thank God I am not like them!” 

            Although we may not see it as such, we have a propensity towards comparing ourselves to others—the Holy Spirit grants us discernment when we seek Him, yet criticism and judgmental attitudes are evidence of the brokenness of sin in our hearts.  Lurking behind our words or our attitudes is the notion that we are either greater than or (not quite so often) less than those whose lives or actions we are quietly assessing.

            The Holy Spirit cautions through the apostle Paul, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise….But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’  For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends” (1 Corinthians 10:12, 17-18).

            I grew up in a home where sharp comments and criticisms were frequently expressed—attitudes that I was accustomed to hearing became an integral part of my nature.  I confess!  It became so very easy for me to judge others by my opinions and what I thought were my strengths—and it is so very difficult just to zip my lips!  Yet we cannot let our backgrounds or the brokenness of others define us—we just cannot!  …because Jesus came to redeem and redefine our lives:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

            I often forget, though, that repentance is an integral part of our relationship with Jesus, and necessary to becoming more like Him.  I often share 1 John 1:9 in this blog—honestly, my study and what I write here is what the Holy Spirit is speaking to my heart and the reminders He gives me about my relationship with Him; that when a gap appears and grows in my experience and relationship with God, I need to return to Him in humility and repentance, allowing Him to cleanse my heart—for when we confess our sins He forgives us and cleanses us from unrighteousness.

            The Holy Spirit gives us, in the book of Revelation, some essential areas where we need to hear His voice and turn back to God:

            “…you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” (Revelation 2:5).  I think it is good to ask ourselves frequently if we have the same passion for Jesus as when we first realized the bleakness of our lives and accepted His hope and His sacrifice for our sins.  …or have we slipped into a religious coma, going to church, singing the songs, criticizing the saints and condemning the “heathen” without the passion and compassion that only comes with intimacy with our Lord.

            “…you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.  Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:14-16).  Idolatry and sexual immorality are rampant today, though many either do not recognize their exaltation of the gods of this age or they “handle the Word of God deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4:2) to excuse immorality.  The doctrine of the Nicolaitans crept into the church allowing compromise with, and conformity to the immoral logic and behaviors of society—how prevalent is that even now!  We, as Christians, must guard our hearts and minds with the truth of God’s Word and not let the perversions of the enemy distort our thinking.

            “…you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols….Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds…” (Revelation 2:20, 22).  Besides immorality and idolatry, Jezebel represents pleasure and prosperity with a focus on “the finer things of life” instead of God—a “prosperity gospel” sounds enticing yet it is unbiblical.

            “… ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how you have received and heard, hold fast and repent” (Revelation 3:1-3).  What an indictment against many of us who sit in pews, looking alive but not quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit!  As easy as it is to point my finger at “them”, there are times when I experience death in my Spirit and I need to repent for allowing distractions or hardness cloud my view of Jesus.  I do not want my life to be about “works” and doing the Christian life without passion for the Savior.  Remember how you received Christ?  “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Ephesians 2:6).

          “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot….Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see.  As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:15, 17-19).  God desires to cover our culpability—He take no pleasure in exposing the shame of our sin and brokenness.  Sometimes, though, we do not see how desperately we need His redemptive work.  The epistle of James (2:5) records, “Listen, my beloved brethren:  “Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”  The value system of this world is upside down in contrast to the kingdom of God; however, the Holy Spirit commands us to be zealous for God, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. 

            This wasn’t an easy post to write because I’ve been struggling with the sin in my own heart.  I am so grateful, though, that when I do sin, I “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1) and when I confess my sins, “He is faithful and just to forgive [me my] sins and cleanse [me] from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).