Verses:

Genesis 3:17 and 3:23 says, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”… So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

2 Chronicles 6:36 says, “…for there is no one who does not sin…”

Jeremiah 50:6 says, “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.”

Reading:

Bobby Cox, the former head coach of the Atlanta Braves, holds the record for regular season ejections with 158. The Braves’ fan base, players, and other staff could pretty much rely on the fact that when Coach Cox stormed onto the field, they would probably be parting ways with him the rest of the game. 

As much authority as a coach has over his team, umpires have the authority to point a finger at them in the ballpark and wave them goodbye. In a much bigger way, even though we are the crown jewel of God’s creation and have been given authority in the world, God has the authority to toss us out of his presence. And you know what? He already did!

Adam was the first man created by God. He is our great, great, great, great, great, great…. too-many-greats-to-count grandfather. God told him not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But through a series of events (which you can read in Genesis 3), he disobeyed and ate of that tree. Adam had to pay the consequence of his decision.

We have inherited the consequence of our father Adam’s decision, and we know we have because we are not with God today. Humanity was cast out of his presence a long time ago. We have been exiled and tossed out like an umpire tosses out a coach, because humanity is wrong and God is right.

2 Chronicles 6:36 and Romans 3:23 echo the same sentiment. This verse in Romans says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Being in sin means that you have missed the mark of righteousness. People don’t want to hear that they are a sinner. The fact is that we all have been rejected and outcast by God because of our sinful heart. Your state isn’t any different than anyone else when you were born. Like Jeremiah 50:6 says, God’s people are lost sheep. Without his hand and direction, we don’t know where to go, and he is looking for you to turn back to him. 

You may be in this place of wandering. First, before you can receive the good news of forgiveness, you need the bad news. You are an outcast, and we are all sinners in desperate need of help only God can give. Your heart of sin is the reason you have bad thoughts and do bad things. But stay tuned, because he did something amazing - so that you could come back on the field and coach.

Prayer Prompt:

Father in heaven, you created the world good and perfect. You love perfection. When  Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, I was bound for exile, but my sin is not Adam’s fault, your fault, or anyone else’s fault; it’s me. I would have done the same thing because I’m human. We all deserve punishment because our hearts, as humanity, are set on disobedience. I don’t want to give excuses and I will not blame anyone else for my heart. All I want to tell you today is that you are right, and I am wrong. You are God and I am not. I am a sinner, and your ways are perfect. Bring me back to you, God! Save me from sin and this exile!

Reflection Question:

How does this message today make you feel?

Response:

Acknowledge your sins to God in prayer, and ask for forgiveness.