Standing In The Shadows

The wind gracefully danced through the trees as I stared with eyes wide open fixed and focused on a young tender olive leaf, which seemed to hang lifeless on a limb.

Gone was the peace of God that so permeated my soul and in its place is the skin of a stinking lie stuffed with shame and fear.

Gone was the power of God that seem to so saturate everything that I set out to think and do, and in it’s place is the haunting, overwhelming feeling of absolute inadequacy.

Gone was the very presence of God, and in His Place is a void, nothingness, an emptiness of life and soul.
Now, I stand naked in the shadows. For the heat of the day is past, and yet my sin abides.

Did I not understand when God told me not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?

Did I not understand that in eating I
would surely die?

Did I not understand that I was created under
His Authority and that He does all things Good, Glorious, and Right (Genesis 2:17)?

I tell you, I did understand!

I tell you that His Word was clear unto me!

I tell you that I was not deceived (2Timothy 2:14), but I was determined to go my own way!

Anger, resentment, guilt, and confusion raise up and war against me as in the distance I hear the voice of One who is altogether Lovely as He graciously asks:

“Adam, where are you?”

“Where am I?” you ask.

“Here I am Father, standing naked in the shadows away from Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).”

“Where am I?” you ask.

“Here I am Father, standing in my sin overwhelmed in shame, guilt, and death.”

“Where am I?” you ask.

“Here I am Father, in need of a Savior who can take away my sin and restore me unto God.

Here I am Father!

Hiding naked in the
shadows!

For the heat of the day is past, and yet my sin abides!"