Good morning. I think that we could have a pretty good discussion to choose which is the most hopeful, joyful, and encouraging of all the verses of scripture in God’s Word. The winner would almost certainly be John 3:16 For God so loved the world (You, me, every last one of us!) that He gave (the definition of grace) His one and only begotten Son (the coming of Jesus, the most unique, peculiar, and spectacular event in human history) that whoever should believe in Him (this word, ‘believe’, is not the word for believing in something or someone’s existence, it is the word used to describe absolute acceptance of something or someone’s purpose and power) shall not die but instead gain eternal life.
This statement of Jesus clearly gives each of us hope for eternity. It presents God’s plan for our salvation and what is required of us to gain that salvation. Choosing this verse as the most positive and delightful verse in all of God’s Word is a safe choice.
But for this moment, let’s go the other direction. What would you consider to be the saddest, most discouraging verse in all of God’s Word?
Personally, I would argue that the saddest verse could be Genesis 3:8. This verse refers to the actions of Adam and Eve soon after they have turned to sin. It tells us: Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Before they had chosen to disobey the will of God, to sin, Adam and Eve would enjoy “walking with God in the coolest part of the day.” They would enjoy absolute fellowship with the Lord, and they could converse with Him. Can you imagine the joy of those moments? If any question entered your mind, you could ask God, and He would give you the answer. What if they might feel the need for special closeness, for absolute union with God the Father? If such a moment would arise, they could simply run to Him, and into His arms. They could walk with Him, and He would hold their hands.
Adam and Eve enjoyed all of this and more, and yet they chose to sin against Him. This sin changed them immediately. Previously, they never knew fear, they never knew doubt, they never knew shame, or loss, or want. Whatever need there might be, they could turn to God and the need would immediately be met. It was paradise.
But then they sinned. In that moment, there was created in God’s paradise…brokenness. From that time forward their relationship with God would be altered. As soon as they sinned, they realized shame, recognizing that they were naked. Previously, that was of no concern. The temperature in the garden was perfectly within the range to allow them to live without clothing, and they had nothing to hide. There wasn’t anything in their lives that they could be ashamed of. But sin entered, and everything changed.
The first thing they did was try to hide their nakedness. They were ashamed to be seen as they were created, and so they covered themselves as best they could. But that wasn’t the end of the hiding. No, the next thing we read is in the 8th verse when they hear God coming and they attempt to hide from Him.
Sin entered and their immediate response was to hide from God. We, mankind, have been trying to hide from Him ever since.
There was perfection, and came sin to destroy it.
Sin brings devastation, doubt, fear, and brokenness to God’s children. God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, who came to us to destroy all of that.
While Genesis 3:8 may be the most difficult and the saddest verse of the Bible, John 3:16 triumphs over it!
The good news of John 3:16 is so overwhelmingly good that the bad news of Genesis 3:8 becomes immaterial. Jesus came to us and conquered our sin.
I would close today’s thought with the good news again proclaimed in 2 Timothy 1:9-10 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Now that is great news! The best news of God defeats the worst news of man every time!
Vern