“Please don’t ask me where I’ve been/I’ve been alone through thick and thin/On the outside looking in/A lonely travelin’ man/Something that I haven’t found/keeps me seeking all around/moving on from town to town/A lonely travelin’ man.” These Stevie Wonder lyrics (and the rest) portray a lot of people who move about aimlessly or looking for something they can’t seem to find. Many of us like to be on the move; we like open spaces and the joys of adventure; but we need guidance. Let’s go on an adventure now! Step in to this time machine and let’s pay God a visit.
Ready? Let’s dial in the beginning of creation! Peering through the trees we see Adam and Eve. We see them uncovered, unashamed, unharmed and unaffected by sin. We see delight on their faces; not a worry in the world. Suddenly, the serpent chummies up to Eve. Deceived, Eve eats of the forbidden fruit. She disobeyed God’s command to steer away from it. As is its nature, sin quickly spreads to Adam as he also eats in disobedience. It also spreads to all of creation.
(Please note, it is very possible that at this point in time, there were hundreds of people on the earth: their sons and daughters, already born, since God’s first command to Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and multiply. Additionally, upon sinning, God increased Eve’s pain in childbearing signifying it didn’t happen before this moment, Genesis 3:16). It’s not a doctrine, or that I’m strange, well, that’s beside the point, but a possibility!
Some people don’t understand why Adam’s guilty. For one, some Spanish readers say he’s completely innocent. Why? A difference in the Spanish translation of Genesis 3:6 doesn’t place him with Eve, while in English, we’re told that he was. Not so, grasshopper. He was present, and, although not deceived, chose to disobey God anyway.
That there were people on earth, is also supported by Genesis 4:14-17 where Cain complained that “everyone that finds me shall slay me.” He later moved away, took a wife, and built a city. Why build a city for no one? Let’s keep traveling.
Now we find probably the only example in the entire Bible of Evolution! But notice it didn’t take hundreds of millions of years to unfold! It took mere seconds! It transpired instantaneously! During Creation, God created the serpent which walked upright on two or four legs. But suddenly, upon being cursed by God for its disobedience, it was transformed into a creepy-crawler!
Punching in another time and date, let’s visit Moses. We land on a mountain smoking hot with God’s presence! There, we see God’s angels at work as witnesses giving Moses the ten commandments (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19). It was an awesome sight to behold! And, furthering our travels, we spot God raining angel’s food upon the Israelites (Psalm 78:25). Time for another reset!
On the last leg of our journey, silently, we sneak onto Mount Golgotha and watch Jesus being led to be crucified. Lightning and wild winds fill the air, and in the spiritual realm, we see demons whizzing by in glee eagerly anticipating the celebration of Jesus’ crucifixion. Hordes of them led by Satan gather among the soldiers, the watchers, the criers, and fill the grounds where He will be crucified.
As Jesus makes His way up, He’s well aware of their presence. He sees them and smells them. He’s aware of their “triumphal victory.” He focuses instead, on you and me. He breathes our names to the Father. He knows He’s laying down His life for us that we might lay ours for Him someday. He knows He’ll soon purchase our freedom from the bondage of sin that Adam and Eve forfeited to Satan. Every step Jesus takes, every sigh He makes, every moan we hear, carries the certainty He’s pleasing the Father. Had He the strength to show it, He’d be laughing one last time at Satan and his demonic hosts because He knows what Satan doesn’t. It’s a mystery shared between the Godhead. No human or angelic being knows it.
Jesus is offered up on the cross. Demons are probably on top of the cross anticipating when “the good stuff” will take place. The nails get pounded into His hands and feet. He’s left there in the darkness, in the earthquake, in the rain as the rocks rent, the graves open, and the veil of the temple is torn. He’s making peace with the Father and redeeming mankind and the world to God. Finally, He’s laid in a tomb.
As we watch everyone leave, we too make our way home. As we came, we go; in silence. We feel a lump in our throats. It’s not Adam’s apple (the one he didn’t eat); it’s a loss for words for what God was willing to do for us. It’s a flood of emotions having witnessed the horrors of the crucifixion. It’s knowing He didn’t deserve to die in our place but chose to. It’s recognizing the purest form of love-unselfish and freely given.
So, “Whatdoyasay,” should we sneak up one more time? Let’s hang around the tomb. It’s been almost three days “BOOM!” The stone is moved away! Jesus is revealed alive! He’s conquered death! Tears of sorrow now turn to tears of joy and hope for others!
Meanwhile, in the depths of Hell and in the atmospheric heavens, Satan and his demons rage!! Their party is cut short!! How did they not see this coming?! Satan doesn’t know it all like he thought! Now, at the appointed time, he’ll have to kneel and confess Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11)!
So, what’s the Godhead’s secret? Had they known (that killing Jesus, would allow Him to redeem mankind and terminate Satan’s reign in the near future), they never would have crucified the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8). They fulfilled God’s plans!
As the song continues, “Something that I can’t explain/Holding me from wind and rain/Wild and free and hard to tame/A lonely travelin’ man”. How about you? Aimless traveling days can end right now! Jesus can shield you from wind and rain and tame your heart! He’s done it all for you! Have a safe trip home!
Let’s Reset!
Sam