 She lifted her face to the sun, shielding her eyes in the light. A hint of dampness hung in the fresh morning air which was still fragrant with dew. She reached her hand upward, considering the lush fruit. “Ahhh … That one,” she whispered to no one, plucking the biggest piece and admiring its perfection. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she bit into the pear, juicy and sweet. She continued her walk as she ate, wandering among the trees along the river. An eagle flew overhead; she could hear its wings cut the air as it passed. Grasses reached toward the sky. Brilliant colours of wildflowers filled the fields. The world was still a beautiful place. Her gaze panned the scene. A different kind of beautiful, she sighed. Not like before. A tinge of sadness touched her heart. Very beautiful, yes. But not like before. Footsteps pounded on the path ahead. Someone was coming. She darted off the trail into the thick growth and crouched low. Adam had warned her not to go so far. A young man came around the turn. She held her breath—youth was not a guarantee of safety. But he passed quickly without even a glance in her direction. She peered through the leaves, taking no chances until he was out of sight. An image flashed before her: another time she’d crouched in the bushes to hide ...
Eve left her place among the foliage and started for home. She still saw the blood of that innocent lamb, poured out for her. Everything had changed that day. Driven from their paradise, they would never again see their garden home. They had to make their way in a fallen world. Strife and sorrow followed them; pain and heartache filled their days. They tried to honour God: they taught their children of the Creator and of redemption; they taught their children’s children. But they were sinful parents, and their children were sinful. The generations became more and more corrupt—hating God; forsaking His truth—until evil enslaved most of humanity. The population increased, and society advanced and flourished; but so did wickedness. It grieved her heart. How much more must it grieve the heart of God? Yet even after all these years, the Creator had never broken a promise. She knew a Saviour would come, born of her seed. For a long time, she’d thought it would be her—that she would be the mother of God’s chosen One. By now, she knew that wasn’t to be. Eve would never see that perfect Substitute, not in her lifetime. It would be centuries before the promise would be fulfilled in One called Jesus, the holy Lamb of God, born in a stable in Bethlehem.
His death and resurrection from the grave were the Creater’s plan from before the beginning. His blood would provide atonement for Eve and for all her descendants who believe and repent of their sin, as she did. Jesus, the Messiah, would bring forgiveness. Redemption. Restoration to God. Purification through His righteousness. He is the spotless Lamb. Perfect sacrifice. Promised One. The hope of Eve and all mankind. Copyright © 2022 by Sandra Grace Read the true account of Eve and the first promise of a Saviour in Genesis 3.
Isaiah 53. Luke 2.
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 The book of Genesis gives the historical account of a world-wide flood—God's judgment on a corrupt humanity. The rains would come, He promised, destroying all creatures on the earth; all birds in the air; all mankind. Yet there was one man among the masses who honoured Him, and the Lord would spare that man and his family. In His mercy, God provided an escape. He directed the man to build it. It was there for anyone who would turn from evil and trust God ... An ark. God had specific instructions concerning the ark, for both its design and its contents (Genesis 6:11–22). He waited a long time—possibly 75 years—for it to be built and ready, all the while extending grace to everyone: opportunity for them to repent of their wickedness. Out of all the earth (population probably 4–10 billion), only eight people were saved from the crushing waters: the man, his wife, his three sons, and his sons' wives (Genesis 7). They were the only ones who acknowledged their plight, believed God’s promise, and accepted His invitation into the safety of the ark. The rest were swept away. The ark took the pounding of God’s judgment. The ark was the family's only refuge in the fierce storm. The ark provided their every need: food, water, warmth, rest. The ark was secure. Through the raging tempest, it held them. The ark was their salvation; it brought them through unharmed. There's a striking similarity between those people of the pre-flood world and us today, their plight and ours. God is still merciful and longsuffering; but as with them, He's promised us a judgment to come. Count on it. For us, too, He's provided an escape—only one. A refuge. Protection. Provision. Security. Salvation. Offered to all who trust and repent. Our Ark is Jesus Copyright © 2022 by Sandra Grace Genesis 6: 5–8 & 7:1. “The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land ... for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. “Then the LORD said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.’” (NASB) Genesis 7:17–23. “Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died ... and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.” (NASB) 1 Peter 3:20. “... when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” (ESV) Romans 10:13. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV) Luke 13:5. “... I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (ESV) Acts 3:19. “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (ESV) Romans 5:6, 8 & 9. “For while we were still weak ... Christ died for the ungodly ... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” (ESV) References: Calculations of pre-flood world population Pre-flood conditions and estimated world population Years to build the ark  The baby’s cries break the stillness of the night. His little fists flail as his mother unwraps him and changes the soiled strips of cloth for fresh swaddling bands. She pulls the infant closer and coos softly to quiet him. The rustle of hay in the stalls ... the low of cattle ... the pound of hooves in the dirt are the music of a lullaby. She strokes his velvet cheek. She smiles into his pinched, round face and marvels at his newborn perfection. “Beautiful boy,” she whispers. This, her baby, is much like any other baby born into the world. He cries when he’s hungry; he shivers when he’s cold; he sooths at the sound of her voice and snuggles into her embrace. In time, he’ll learn to crawl. He’ll pull himself awkwardly to his feet and take his first steps. He’ll stumble and fall; she’ll wipe his tears and clean his scrapes. He’ll curl up on her lap as she teaches him the Scriptures. He’ll study math and practice shaping his letters. He’ll learn and grow like every other child. But this baby’s not like any other baby. This baby, the child of a virgin girl and a surrogate father, is the Holy, sinless Son of Yahweh. This little One, born in poverty, is King, master and owner of the universe. These cries are the voice that spoke the world into existence. This helpless infant is the God who formed man out of the dust and breathed life into his lungs. He is Emmanuel (God with us), stepped down from the adoration and splendour of Heaven into a world of evil and hate, sickness and sorrow. He’s taken on the form of the fallen ones, His created. One of us, living among us. Sinless One, subjecting Himself to imperfect parents. Omniscient One, under instruction by fallible minds. The Omnipotent, restricted by hunger, fatigue, pains, mental and physical ends ... Deity wrapped in flesh; spirit confined to a body; eternal set in time; holiness amidst depravity; limitless bound by the laws of physics. Still, He is El Shaddai (all Sufficient One), Adonai (the Lord), El Elyon (the God Most High), and the Great I Am. He is born, not to be adored here in the manger, but to go to the cross. He’ll suffer the wrath of God that humanity deserves. He ... the Lamb, the perfect sacrifice. Saviour. Redeemer. All this, He chooses for a purpose decreed in eternity past: salvation, freely offered to all; forgiveness, granted only to those who repent of their sin. But the cross will not be the end. He will defeat the grave. Yeshua, the risen Lord. The Life. Victor over sin and conqueror of death. He will ascend into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father, alive evermore, El Olam (Everlasting God). The Lion of Judah. The Judge, fierce and holy and righteous. One day, every knee will bow in reverence to Him. Praise and honour, glory and majesty forever. King of kings. Saviour God. ... Child like no other ... Her beautiful boy. Copyright © 2021 by Sandra Grace John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” |
AuthorSandra Grace was born and raised near Moncton, New Brunswick. It was there she began her writing, tapping out stories for her children. She has published special editions of three of those stories. Archives
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