Text---Genesis 1-3 (narrative)
Today we are going to talk about the oldest home ever built. Some
of you are already running
ahead of me and are like the kid in school that always goes, "Oooh,
oooh, oooh, I know, I know."
Well it is kind of a no-brainer and when I tell you to turn to Genesis
1 you will have the
satisfaction of knowing you were right. So, turn with me to Genesis
1 as we look at the word of
God together today.
I. FIRST GOD BUILT A HOUSE
There are certain basic elements that must
be in place for a house to be a house. This one
was no exception to the rule and became the
prototype for other houses that came after it.
This is the house that God built.
A. It had a floor (very important). Something solid to stand on---1:9
Kevin Costner
directed and starred in one of the biggest belly flops of all time in the
motion picture
industry---"Water World" It shouldn't surprise us. Man need
something solid
under his feet. So, God provided.
B. It had a roof (also very important).
See verse 1:6. Pretty cool roof, huh? Margaret is
trying to duplicate
it in her bedroom. She has stuck little glow-in-the-dark stars all
over her ceiling.
C. It had lighting. I would say that
is an essential element of a house, wouldn't you---1:3.
He even put
in a night light. Matthew (our son) would like that touch---1:16.
I love how He
just kind of threw in the stars. Verse 16 says as almost an aside,
"He
also made the
stars."
D. It had plumbing---any time you can get all
the water in one place (the pipes for
instance) you
have plumbing. That is not always the case, by the way, at the
parsonage.
We find the reference to plumbing in verse 9 of chapter 1.
E. He also threw in some pets! Verses
20-21 of chapter 1 tell us about the pets. There is
something for everybody
so just take your pick.
II. GOD MOVED A FAMILY INTO THE NEW HOUSE
That's when it became a home! There was
a minor technicality however---first He had to
create the family to move into the new house.
That was no big deal for God---remember,
He is the One who flung the stars into space
as a seeming afterthought.
Notice the family that God moved into the house that became a home.
A. First God created the man. If he was
to be the spiritual leader of the family it is only
natural and
even logical that he would need to be in place first. Not because
he was
better but because
of the role that God was going to give him.
B. In assessing his lot in life God realized
that it was not good that man should be alone so
He created "Whoah-man!"
(that's what Adam said when he woke up and saw Eve
standing there).
It is very clear
that God's plan for family is one man, one woman committed to each
other in marriage
(see 2:24). Summed up very simply----Leaving, cleaving, oneness
C. He gave them some very simple instructions
(rental agreement) in 1:28-31:
1. Be fruitful and multiply
2. Replenish the earth (not just procreation but also stewardship of resources)
3. Subdue the earth and have dominion over it
4. Eat freely of what I have provided you in the garden
5. Don't eat
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day you eat from
it
you will surely die (2:17).
So everything
was wonderful in the home God had made for His family. He
fellowshiped
with them in the cool of the evening, He provided everything they needed
for life and
comfort. There was balance and harmony and purity in the home.
But then something happened:
III. THE TENANTS BROKE THE RENTAL AGREEMENT AND TRASHED (DEFILED)
THE HOME
We read in Genesis 3:23-24 that The Landlord
had to evict the tenants from the home He
had created for them in the Garden of Eden.
This has to be every landlord's worst nightmare.
Adam and Eve did the only thing the
God had told them not to do. The only
negative commandment and they just had to do it.
We understand what transpired because we've
been trashing the home ever since.
God's plan for families was and always has
been for a husband and wife (man and woman)
who are committed to each other for life to
fellowship with the landlord, take care of the
home, keep it clean and pure, and provide
a holy environment in which to train up children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
It would be a gross understatement to say we
are not doing that today. We have eagerly
sought out ways to disobey God and have invented
untold means of coming back to the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil (in
a figurative sense). We bring all kinds of things
into our homes that continue to defile, we
have fathers who don't even know their
children, mothers who have lost all sense
of their calling in life, children who no longer
honor and obey their parents----and we stand
aghast at the things we see on the news.
These headlines we see virtually every night
are simply the result of trashy homes.
Remember what the LandLord said---"I you eat
of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil you shall surely die." We have
been witnessing the results of disobedience since the
beginning of time---physical death of the
tenants, death of harmony, death of beauty, death
of relationships, eternal separation from
the LandLord in a place called Hell. Need I go
on?
God is extending His call to fathers and mothers
to return to His plan for families. He
desires husbands and wives who will truly
cleave to each other alone, who will walk in
spiritual and physical oneness, who will train
up their children in the way they should go
and no longer be a part of the problem!
It is obvious as we look at our own lives and
families and look back on history that we
can't do this on our own. But, the LandLord
has provided a way:
IV. GOD HAS WRITTEN A NEW CLAUSE IN THE RENTAL AGREEMENT
The new clause is called the New Covenant.
It is written with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Those who come to Christ for salvation are
able to come home to the presence of the
Father. The fellowship that was in the
beginning between God and Adam and Eve before
sin came into the home is restored.
When Jesus is the center and foundation of
our home we will begin to catch a glimpse of
Eden in our earthly home. It will ultimately
be restored in eternity but it sure is nice when
we see just a little bit of it in this earthly
realm.
1 Corinthians 3:11ff. clearly states that there
is no other foundation that can be laid except
that which is laid in Christ Jesus.
We are then to build upon that foundation lasting,
enduring things such as silver, gold, and
precious stones. I submit to you today that a
Godly home, built on the foundation of Jesus
Christ, raising Godly children (precious
stones) is a beautiful picture of the intent
of these verses.
Will you make the commitment to do that today
on this first Sunday of May (family
month). Husbands, will be willing to
sit down with your family and say, "God has shown
me it is time for a change. We are going
to start doing what the LandLord wants us to do.
Our home is going to be a reflection of His
glory for this community and the whole world
to see. From now on we are going to
build on the Foundation and He is going to be
central to everything we do."
Folks, nothing is going to change in our homes,
our church, our society, our world until
we make that commitment.