Key Passage: Genesis 3: 8-10

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?” So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

God loves and values relationship with His people. He desires that we do the same with Him and be faithful. He will do all in His power to protect and preserve His relationship with us. Even when we fail He does not reject us completely. He gives us an opportunity to return in repentance so that He could have mercy on us, forgive us and restore us.

God came to the Garden to commune with His friend who He created in His image and to whom He gave His power and all the treasures of the earth, and he was not in the right place. He was out of order – hiding behind a tree and covered with fig leaves.

Often, some of us find ourselves out of order in our relationship with God. Our prayer life takes a nosedive; our hunger for God’s word dries out; our fervency in devotion is lost; our commitment to the things of God wanes; our love for the brethren and our readiness to forgive and tolerate others wax cold; and we relapse into compromise, hypocrisy and deception. Then, we just operate like spiritual zombies, becoming rigid and legalistic, without true spiritual fervor.

Being out of order in ones relationship with God has grave consequences. It could bring despair, shame, woe and doom. Adam was out of order when he ate from the forbidden tree. He was conquered, stripped and cast out of the Garden of Eden, never to return. Samson was out of order lying in the bosom of a prostitute. His hair was scraped and his power was gone; and his enemies gouged out his eyes and turned him into a clown. King Saul was out of order by disobeying God in order to please the people. God rejected him as the king of Israel and an evil spirit tormented him.

Today, God is searching for all His children who have fallen out of grace, and into sin. He is asking, “Son! Daughter! Where are you?” He is calling them back to a true personal relationship with Him. He is saying, "Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land” (Is 1:18-19). Will you listen to His voice and return to Him?

Pray: Lord, forgive me for my sins and failures; lead me back to the place of intimate love with You.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi