The Hope of Heaven - Genesis Part 4

Flintstones meet the Flintstones there a modern Stone Age family. Come on, sing with me from the town of bed rock there a page right out of his daughter Marie. Hey, how can you not love the Flintstones yeah with their Brontosaurus burgers and there are dinosaur bulldozers and Fred's quick feet. You don't want in the car you gotta love the Flintstones right right stuff was wrong with you people are so listen, but you know we all realize the Flintstones. It's a fantasy world, but how did the first human beings really live. I me. What was the first human society really like this is something that has peak to the curiosity of our men and women since the very beginning of time and you know all in the early centuries, people thought that man lived like the gods at the beginning of time, but now in our more modern world with Darwinian evolution. We've got a very different picture that people are presenting us with U.S. News & World Report. In an article entitled the first human said and I quote, like modern apes. The first humans have long arms well adapted to climbing and they probably spent much of their time in the trees, their social order was distinctly apelike to with groups of females banding together with individual alpha males now into the face of all of this guesswork flies the clear and unambiguous picture that the Bible gives us of what the first human society was like. And this is what we want to talk about today. Remember were in a series verse by verse in the book of Genesis and today were in chapters 1 and two, which gives us this picture of the first human society a picture that we are going to accept as the truth the whole truth and nothing but the true one of the key reasons why were going to do that is because the Lord Jesus Christ himself accepted. Genesis chapter 1 and two as presenting the truth to us in Matthew chapter 19 verse four. Jesus said, have you not read that at the beginning, he who created them, created them male and female. Now this is a direct quote from Genesis chapter 1 verse 27 in the next verse, Matthew 19, five Jesus goes on to say, and he God said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.

This is a direct quote from Genesis chapter 2 verse 24. The point is that if the Lord Jesus Christ believed that Genesis chapters 1 and two were telling us the truth than folks on that to take my stand with the Lord Jesus. Now you can take your stand wherever you want, but I'm taking my stand with him, and by the way, since I'm up here preach and that's how were going to preach in. Yeah okay so here we go. Are you ready Genesis chapter 2 we begin in verse four and this is the account.

The Bible says of the heavens and the earth when they were created. The Lord God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, but a mist used to rise up from the ground and water, the surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being in the Lord God planted a garden towards the east, in Eden, and there he placed the man whom he had formed, and out of the ground the Lord God had caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food, the tree of life was also in the middle of the garden as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, where exactly was this garden of Eden. Well the next four verses versus 10 to 14 of chapter 2 tell us that it was located between four rivers, two of which were the Tigris and the Euphrates and what this tells us is that the garden of Eden was located somewhere in the ancient region of Mesopotamia somewhere in the modern-day area of the nation of Iraq and was interesting is that modern archaeology confirms the Bibles claim archaeology tells us that the earliest human societies. We have record of originated in the Mesopotamian Valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. There really isn't a glass okay verse 15 so the Lord God took the man and put them in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and take care of it in the Lord God commanded the man saying you are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you shall surely die. More on that next week. Verse 18 then the Lord God said it is not good for man to be alone I will make a helper suitable for him. Now out of the ground the Lord. It formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what the man would call them and whatever the man called each living creature that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock and to all the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the field, but for Adam. No suitable helper was found. See what happened here. God said I want to match you up, Adam, to bring every animal made by you tell me if any appeal to you while you given them their name. Well, Adam saw them all and at the end he said when I Lord.

Honestly, I'm not really attracted to hippopotamuses and giraffes just don't do it for me, Lord. And so verse 21. The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he was sleeping.

God took one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he taken out of the man and he brought her to the mayor and the man said hey Lord we are cooking with gas now. Now this is what I am talking about right here, Lord, and this he said is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. For this reason, the verb one of the verses, the Lord Jesus quoted a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh in the man and his wife were both naked and were unashamed. So here we have the Bible's description of the first human society and I want you to notice three things about this first human society.

Number one I want us to notice that in the first human society. Adam and Eve had a perfect environment. I mean think about it. There was no death.

Yet there were no germs.

There were no bacteria. There were no viruses and there was no cancer in this world there was no pain, no sickness, no decay, no aging, no PCBs, no dioxin, no no no no radon, no heavy metal poisoning.

There was no air pollution. There was no contaminated water and there was no hole in the ozone layer. But think about something else to in this early world. There was no rain. Because remember what we read a mist came up from the ground and watered everything which means there were no weather fronts, which means there were no Hurricane Katrina and there were no tornadoes and there were no typhoons and there were no tsunamis and there was no's lead and no freezing rain and no 40 inch snowfall praise the Lord for that. The point my friends at the garden of Eden was an absolutely perfect environment you say yeah that sounds like paradise. Well, that's the point. It was second.

I want you to notice that in this first human society.

Adam and Eve had a perfect purpose in life when God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He gave him a job description and it was a job description designed specifically to produce ultimate happiness and ultimate satisfaction in their life and there were three components of their job description component number one was meaningful work.

Genesis 2 verse 15. So the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and take care of it. God knows that we as humans need meaningful work to feel good about ourselves to feel a sense of accomplishment to feel a sense of importance and significance. And God made sure Adam and Eve had that and remember Adam and Eve had no sin nature. At this point so work was fun, work was meaningful work was exciting and have a great boss to remember okay. Number two.

The second component of this perfect life he had given them is they had control over their surroundings. Genesis chapter 1 verse 28 and God said to Adam and Eve, you are to rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

In other words, God gave man authority over the creatures of the earth.

He gave them authority over his surroundings, because God knows that in order to feel secure and in order to feel fulfilled.

We as people need to feel some measure of control over our environment and God made sure Adam and Eve had and finally, in this the perfect purpose for life, component number three is God gave them intimate fellowship with him their creator. We talked about this last week. Genesis chapter 3 verse eight, and Adam and Eve heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and I told you last week that the Hebrew language makes it clear this was a repetitive action, God came to the garden every day to walk with Adam and Eve to talk with Adam and Eve to spend time and be in fellowship with Adam and Eve.

Why, because God knows how we made us, and God knows that the highest satisfaction in a human soul comes when we are linked up together and in deep communion with Almighty God himself and he made sure that Adam and Eve had that so what we see here is that God designed the garden to be to be a place where Adam and Eve had a perfect reason to get up every morning I mean they had that meaningful work. They had control over their surroundings and they had intimate fellowship with their creator.

Finally, number three I want us to notice that in the first human society. Adam and Eve had perfect relationships with every other living thing. Think about it now that a perfect relationship with every plant the garden. There was no poison ivy. There was no poison oak.

There were no thorns. There were no thistles. Also, Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with all the animals in the garden.

The snakes didn't bite. The bees didn't sting him. The Bears didn't chase some the lions didn't attack him, and even the mosquitoes were nice in the garden of Eden. But, you know.

Best of all, Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with each other. Remember Genesis 218 then the Lord God said it is not good for the man to be alone I will make a helper. What's the next word said suitable for him. In other words, God made the perfect woman for Adam and he made the perfect man for Eve and he put the two of them together in the perfect relationship, Adam said, I do. Eve said I do. God said you were hitched is just that simple and Genesis 225 the man and his wife were both naked and were unashamed. What this means is that Adam and Eve were utterly intimate with one another. They were intimate physically, utterly, with one another and emotionally. They were intimate utterly with one another and spiritually. They were intimate utterly with one another. There were zero issues between this husband and this why this man and this woman. There were no fights, there were no selfish behaviors. There were no passive aggressive attitudes.

There were no unresolved conflicts. There was no unforgiveness because there was nothing the ask forgiveness for they got along perfectly is a lot harder to believe in that the snakes did bite well maybe so, but it was true and so let's summarize Genesis chapter 2 and say that here in the garden to be Adam and Eve had number one. A perfect environment number two. A perfect purpose in life and number three perfect relationships with every other living thing. This is how human society began. It didn't begin by us walking around with long arms like apes and it didn't begin by spending our time in the trees. No, no, no, it began just like this and all Adam and Eve had to do to keep everything perfect was not Eve from that one stinking tree.

We know they didn't do so good with that were to talk about that next week but you know I think we all agree that today the garden of Eden is definitely not a term we would use to describe our world that we live in. Why will will talk about that as I said next week. Now this is as far as were going to go in the passage is going to stop now were going to ask our most important question so all of your Loudoun and Prince William and Bethesda and down in the edge and around the world on the Internet campus and all of us here at Tysons. Are you still awake. Are you sure I had my doubts. Here we go now nice little outcome on want to throw away not one bed we do better to do one more time.

I remember I'm a preacher, like this when we do it 1/3 time. So here we go. Come on now want to throw away now wasn't that matter. All right you say Launcelot say you know this is very interesting. I appreciate all the stuff about the garden of Eden. But I do not see one possible connection of any of this with my life so you gotta tell it to me because I don't see well I'm going to listen friend. You know the Bible doesn't tell us an abundant amount about heaven, but one of the things the Bible does tell us is that in heaven God is going to restore to us the conditions that Adam and Eve had in the garden of Eden. Let me show that to you from the Bible. Number one. The Bible says that in heaven God's going to restore to us a perfect environment like Adam and Eve had in the garden. Revelation 21 one and I saw a new heaven and a new earth, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is with man, and he God will live with them and they shall be his people, and he himself shall be among them. Watch and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

The Bible tells us God is going to re-create the way it was at the beginning, a literal paradise.

In fact, that's exactly what the Bible calls heaven. The apostle Paul in second Corinthians 12, after he saw heaven. He says that he was caught up to the third heaven look to paradise and heard inexpressible things about which a man here on earth is not permitted to speak as it was, I mean like anyone can come back here and tell us everything he saw up there. Well friends because God knows if you and I knew how good heaven really was, we'd all be making calls to Dr. Kevorkian. That's why so even tell us how good it really is a fair number two I want you to see that in heaven God's going to restore to us a perfect purpose in life see when sin entered the human race in Genesis chapter 3 man lost his original purpose for life instead of serving God.

Sinful man serves himself instead of glorifying God. Sinful man glorifies himself instead of ruling over creation. Creation is out of control and usually we as human beings are its victims.

And instead of enjoying God in sweet and intimate fellowship. Sinful man is alienated from God and is Ephesians 21 says he is dead to God.

Hey, but in heaven friends, praise the Lord. All of this is going to change back.

Revelation 22 three says that in heaven, his servants, we shall serve him. Our position of doing meaningful work for the glory of God and not cell is going to be restored just like it was in the garden, and Revelation 22 five says in heaven. We shall reign forever and ever.

Our rightful position as rulers over the rest of creation is going to be reinstituted just like it was in the garden and finally Revelation 21 three says that God will live with us we shall be his people, and he himself shall be among us once again we will be in face-to-face intimate communion with the creator of the universe just like it was in the garden.

Finally number three in heaven.

God's going to restore to us perfect relationships with every other living thing on the our world. We hardly say today, our world has many perfect relationships with one another, which are mean.

Just think about it people fight people murder people hurt each other all the time. We have wars we have terrorist attacks. We have nasty divorce is people are mean to each other and they they they they commit crime against each other. I mean, just watch one and NCIS bones watch any of it and you see this, but my friends in heaven. Things are going to be different. Isaiah chapter 2 verse four. They will hammer their swords into plowshares. The Bible says and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Hey folks in heaven, not convening armies in heaven than I can be any seals in heaven targeting beanie guns in heaven.

Nobody is going to hurt anybody. How wonderful is that going to be in heaven.

What began with Cain and Abel is going to end for ever in the presence of the living risen Christ now in light of all that there's a huge so what here. For those of us were followers of Jesus. For those of us who know for certain that were going to heaven the day we leave this earth which every follower of Jesus ought to know.

That's what God wants us to know where there's a big so what here to tell you what it is. My son John who is in his mid-20s now for years competed in the presidential physical fitness competition and if you know anything about this. You know that there are five things that these young people have to do to qualify and you have target, you gotta meet to earn this. This badge saying that you met the criteria will one of Ms. gotta run the mile and you. You wouldn't believe it. If you're seven or eight years old. You gotta run a seven minute mile who can do this we want to reach nine and 10. You gotta run a six something minute mile. Unbelievable is I used to take John out to the track at Woodson high school here locally we would practice the mile he would run and I would stand there and yell encouragement to it.

We practice that's how we practice and said yeah and so I taught John a very important lesson about how to get this done message on every lap. You have to see every lap as an individual lab and see every lap, with its own finish line is not one finish line or for finish lines see one lap at a time and just keep your eye on that finish line.

Keep your focus on the finish line. And once you pass the finish line for lap one that you forget about that and you not worry about lab for yet you only where that left you and you keep your eye on the finish line to lab to. And that's how you get extra strength and extra stamina by focusing on the finish line ever see these programs on television where they do, you know, aerobics or Pilates or Zumba dance you ever watch these things. Yeah, I watch of all the time you said you'd eye while meeting I watch her while I'm snacking, and so and so. But one thing I noticed about these things and that is that you know the people were leaving it counted down of you ever noticed that for more three more to more one more one is a do that when it's not because are trying to file her time.

It's because they know something about human dynamics. They know if they can get you to put your eye on the finish line. For more three more tomorrow that you will reach deep and you'll find endurance and strength that you wouldn't find otherwise. That's why they do that well friends, you know that's how the Lord Jesus made it through the cross. Did you know that is what the Bible says Hebrews chapter 12 verse two it says who's talking about the Lord Jesus for the joy that was set before him. See had his eyes on heaven on the joy that would come after he rose from the dead, who for the joy that was set before him.

Watch endured the cross, while Jesus was on the cross.

The Bible says he wasn't thinking about the cross and he wasn't focus in on the cross he was focusing on the resurrection and the heaven that he knew was going to follow.

That's how we got to the cross near the same thing works for you and me as followers of Christ yell the apostle Paul said it, listen second Corinthians chapter 4, he said.

Therefore, we do not lose heart. We got endurance. Paul says we keep going. We reach deep and find the strength to take whatever comes our way.

How you do that Paul.

Next verse for our momentary, light affliction here on earth is producing for us an eternal weight of glory in heaven far beyond all comparison. While look, we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal but what is unseen is eternal. Pulses I'll tell you how to lose heart.

It's real simple. I don't focus on this world. I focus on heaven and exceeding what did he call it here. He called it the see the eternal weight of glory that is being produced in heaven and waiting for me. That's what I fixed my eyes on pulses and friends as followers of Christ. God wants you and me to tap into the tremendous reservoir of strength and endurance that comes from keeping our eyes on the finish line from keeping our eyes on heaven's, like having a spiritual form or three more to more one more and as a result of that friends is nothing we can take when our focus is on heaven. You know my friend of my wife. Her mom passed away back in 2005, after a long and protracted battle with cancer and I would have to say that I have never seen anybody a believer.

Any believer who faced the difficult death that she faced with more grace with more strength with more courage with more raw endurance spiritually than this woman did you know often I would look at her and I would wonder if I would be able to do it as well. When it came time. You know, I would say well I don't know that I could I could do it as well as she's doing and where is she getting all the strength from his where she getting all this endurance from. She never complained.

She shrunk down to.

I don't know, 50 or 60 pounds and never a word of complaint always happy spirit. I was like I don't I don't know if I could do that well.

She was only a matter of days away from dying in. We as the family were there at her house and she did something very interesting.

She called every single member of the family back for personal little talk with her and I you know I never asked Brenda what her mom said to her, because none of my business and never asked me in and I would tell her anyway was between me and her mom what she said to me, but I'll never forget when that little conversation was over. Her mom was there in bed, barely able to lift her head up but I'll never forget. At the end. She lifted her head off the pillow and she raised her arm and the last words she said to me here on earth she said and in it was a sparkle to her eyes.

She said he line. She said I'll see you in heaven. As a last words to me I see in heaven.

You see, for this woman.

Heaven was not a myth for this woman. Heaven was not a legend for this woman. Heaven was just not you know a dream that the Bible gives us to trot encourages no no for this woman. Heaven was real and she believes she was going there and she believe what the Bible says about us and suddenly I realize this is how she did it. This is how she made it every day. Her eyes were not on cancer every day. Her eyes were on. As Paul said the eternal weight of glory in heaven that God had for her and that's how she did friends you may not be dying today of cancer, but I'll bet you everyone overseers got some tough problems that were facing financial, emotional, healthwise, relationship wise, listen the way God's telling us we make it through the way God's telling us we find extra strength and extra stamina is exactly what Paul said we fix our eyes not on what is seen, what's temporal but on what's eternal and folks when our eyes are on heaven. The Bible says we can take anything for more three more to more and more when I'm outta here. Just think where I'm going, folks you try that as long as you know heaven is your ultimate destination is nothing on this earth that you can handle with the strength Christ but spring Jesus, thanks for talking to us today about real life, everyone of us here has tough things that were facing the Lord to be able to reach deep and find new strength new resiliency new tenacity new Hope it's all about where our focus is that's what the Bible tells us that's what Paul says, that's what the Lord Jesus did on the cross so more teachers not to be so earthly focused teachers to be heavenly focused and of people around us, criticize us and say all that's just pie-in-the-sky bind by welding. Say whatever they want the Lord.

It's real, and by focusing on what you've told us to wait, since it does give us that extra measure of strength we so often so God encourage our hearts today with the hope of heaven and teach us to keep our focus on the eternal.

As we move through this world and we pray these things in Jesus name God's people said Amen Hannah.

Listen listen listen this week if your boss is given your hard way to go or some professor is given your hard way to go. Here's what I recommend you do look at him right in the eyes and say yourself. I would recommend not allowed. Say to yourself, you know what you are just temporal.

I am going to a place that eternal and so you know what give me your best shot I can take it, my eyes on not you, but where I'm going and you know what, if you're nice to me.

I'll tell you how you can get there to