The truth about LSD

August 7, 2020 (Friday)

 

Lets take a look at the immediate consequences of what happened in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:6, it seems Eve became selfish. Self-serving desire is dangerous. Eve looked, she imagined, she reasoned, and finally ate. Adam, on the other hand, was not deceived. He decided to go whatever route Eve was going to go. Thus, wilting to social pressure.

 

Selfishness is not a sin. The actions they cause are sinful. Selfishness stands at odds with loving God. Anytime you catch yourself feeling selfish, there should be alarms, bells, and whistles going off. Charles Wesley wrote:

I want a principle within
of watchful, godly fear,
a sensibility of sin,
a pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel
of pride or wrong desire,
to catch the wandering of my will,
and quench the kindling fire.

 

The Holy Spirit will bring conviction. That’s the painful, miserable feeling associated with the weight of guilt due to sin. It’s God’s way of loving. You will not be hurt by a feeling. These feelings are a warning of danger to come. 

What we need to do is train ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit’s warning. This is the “principle.” So if we can become mindful of the Holy Spirit warning us when we are becoming selfish, or tempted to act on a selfish impulse. It’s going to save us a lot of pain later.

 

The first thing that happened after they sinned is recorded in Genesis 3:7, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” [NLT] The word I want to highlight is “shame.” Shame is the first step on a slippery path. If you can stifle shame, you are hardening your heart to God.

 

Adam and Eve created their own solution to their shame. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. This shame brought separation between them. It created a situation where they now had to cover themselves. Next time you put on clothing, you know there is serious theology as to why they are needed. Later God would slaughter an animal to make clothes for them. This would be the first time they saw something die. The death was for a covering for them. Thus, the theology of “atonement” started.

Selfish action (sin) lead to separation. The ultimate separation was between them and God. God called for them and Adam answered, “…I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” [Genesis 3:10 NIV] The next result is fear. Even today we try to hide from a God who knows us completely. God knows us even better than we do. Yet God also loves us completely and unconditionally.

 

Next up is “blame.” I will get to that next time. For now, I want to remind you of the “LSD” verse. It tells us in a nutshell how this all happens. It’s James 1:15, “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” [NASB] Be careful what you wish for, desire, lust after…