What do we know about Adam and Eve? We know God created Adam from the dust of the ground and formed Eve from Adam’s rib. Adam named the animals. Oh, and Adam and Eve were the first ones to sin. That’s kind of a big deal. They lived in the Garden of Eden until then, but were barred from it ever after. They had children and one of their sons murdered another. But seriously, Adam lived 930 years, and that’s all we know of his life? In all that time, something important had to happen, right? Or what about Noah? The ark, naturally. And the fact that he got drunk and passed out naked in his tent after getting off the ark. But again, this guy lived 950 years, and we only know two accounts from all that time. How’s that for a highlight reel?
Looking at the Bible, we see a lot of this sort of thing. Everyone knows who Adam is. Sunday school kids can tell you about Noah and the ark. But beyond that, the Bible is silent on the rest of their lives, as it is on many other characters from Scripture. Sure, there are notable exceptions–Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus, for example. But many of the characters come in and out with only a few accounts recorded in God’s Word. I wonder how they would feel, knowing that of everything that happened in their lives, these are the facts the Holy Spirit chose to record. Do you think Noah would wonder, Oh, c’mon now. Did you really have to put that part in there about me passing out drunk? Couldn’t we have left it at the ark?
Would you live your life differently if you knew that any and every event could be recorded for future generations? What sort of things would be included? Would you have bold moments of daring, like the three men in the fiery furnace? Or would you have times of doubt and weakness, like Peter denying Jesus three times? If we’re honest, most of us have to admit that we’d have far too many moments of weakness and not nearly enough moments of boldness and daring. Our highlight reel wouldn’t be anything impressive.
Or would it?
I don’t know how you’re living your life, or what sort of earthly legacy you’ll leave behind. I can’t promise the next generation will look back on your life with only good things to say. You’re a sinner as am I. But an earthly legacy, as important as that is, pales in comparison to our final verdict before heaven’s throne. When our last hour comes and it’s time for us to meet our Maker, there’s no way we can stand before Him on our own merit. No matter how “good” a person you are, you fall short when measured against God’s demands in the Law. Not a single one of us can get into heaven on our own. But we don’t have to. For you see, Jesus took our sin upon Himself and gave us His sinlessness. He gives us His “highlight reel,” if you will. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus took our sins, our shortcomings, our failings upon Himself and gave us His righteousness. In God’s eyes, we are perfect, robed in the white of Jesus’ purity. When God looks at His children, He sees Jesus’ perfection. And I’ll gratefully take that highlight reel any day.
TruthNotes 