“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid…. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’”
Genesis 3:9
Like Adam and Eve, we long to be like God. Yet we fail His assignments, cross His boundaries, and break His rules. We do not like to be told what to do or not do. Have you ever touched the paint upon seeing the “Wet Paint, Do Not Touch” sign? We want to make the rules; we want to be like God. Fortunately, God came down with grace.
“Where are you?” He asked His children, knowing full well where they were. God came down, not to judge but to give an opportunity for confession, salvation, and wholeness. He made garments of skin to cover their sin. He drove them out of the garden to protect them from eternal death so they could gain eternal life. God was setting the stage for Jesus to come and die on the cross to cover our sin and protect us from eternal death, so we could have eternal life and be like Him.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Our longing will be fulfilled!
Curry Pikkaart was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He earned his BA degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Since 1974 he has pastored in Iowa (Sioux Center) and in Michigan (Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and South Haven). He’s a trained Bethel Bible Teacher, Stephen’s Minister, and Ministry Coach. He retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2015 but remains active in the Reformed Church in America. He and his wife Barbara live in South Haven, Michigan, and have three sons and eight grandchildren.
“Where are you?” He asked His children, knowing full well where they were. God came down, not to judge but to give an opportunity for confession, salvation, and wholeness. He made garments of skin to cover their sin. He drove them out of the garden to protect them from eternal death so they could gain eternal life. God was setting the stage for Jesus to come and die on the cross to cover our sin and protect us from eternal death, so we could have eternal life and be like Him.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Our longing will be fulfilled!
CORRECTION – New Author Bio for December:
Curry Pikkaart was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He earned his BA degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Since 1974 he has pastored in Iowa (Sioux Center) and in Michigan (Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and South Haven). He’s a trained Bethel Bible Teacher, Stephen’s Minister, and Ministry Coach. He retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2015 but remains active in the Reformed Church in America. He and his wife Barbara live in South Haven, Michigan, and have three sons and eight grandchildren.
Scripture Focus
Genesis 3:1-24
Insight
“Face to face—oh, blissful moment!/…Face to face with my Redeemer,/ Jesus Christ who loves me so.” (Carrie Ellis Breck, 1898)
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 43-44
- Proverbs 2
- Philemon
