The Songs We Sing... the Fall, A Reminder of Our Need
[This is post 3 in a series of blogs about what we do on Sunday mornings at New City Church, Macon written by Keith Watson and Arthur Lin.]
Everything was going well in the story of Creation. God created, and it was "very good." Adam and Eve are in perfect relationship with God. Their life is with God, living for his glory. In this, they find satisfaction and pleasure. Yet, Genesis 3 tells us that the story takes a drastic turn from satisfaction and pleasure to sorrow and lament. This is the story of the Fall.
There was a particular tree in the garden that God said was off-limits to Adam and Eve. One day Satan came to the Garden in the form of a serpent. There, he asked questions pertaining to the tree, trying to entice Adam and Eve to take of the forbidden fruit. He led Eve to doubt God's motives and integrity, working to convince them that the consequences of disobedience would not be severe. Rather, he convinced them, the consequences would be most beneficial. He convinced them that eating of this tree would elevate them to the status of God, knowing good and evil.
Hearing all of this Eve took the fruit and ate it. Adam, who stood beside her, listening to the dialogue between Eve and the serpent, also took of the fruit. Immediately everything changed. Shame, guilt, blame, fear and hiding quickly followed their sin. As a result of Adam's sin, the earth was cursed. Adam and Eve were cursed. Their offspring cursed.
We are cursed, separated from God by sin.
Each week, as a part of our worship, we take time to recognize that like Adam and Eve, we have sinned. We too rebel against our loving Father. We have fallen short of His great glory (Romans 3:23). No one is immune. During a time of confession we recognize our great, ongoing need; calling out to God we confess our broken sinfulness. We do so with the humble hope that as we confess our sins, He is indeed faithful to forgive us (I John 1:9).
The Fall reminds us of our need and presses toward our only hope - redemption in His Son.
