Nothing New Under the Sun
Man’s achievements and accomplishments may be exciting, innovative and interesting, but Solomon makes it clear that, “The thing that hath been, is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is nothing new under the Sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)
This declaration provides explanation for a number of apparent mysteries in space/time, but none is greater or more significant than the comments of Satan in the Garden. Remember he temptingly questioned Eve, “… did God actually say, You shall not eat of every tree in the garden? ’ (moreover, he euphemized) … “You shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:1b, 4b; ESV)
Well, of course, God told Adam that they could eat of the all the fruit of the Garden, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… But He added to this one unmistakably important caveat, “… in the day you eat of it (this tree), you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Interestingly, the margin says, “dying you will die!”
The Creator has given man the ability to invent, discover, construct, educate, etc., but He did not allocate to him a provision or the ability to eradicate his sinfulness, and to regain his peace and fellowship with God except in, by, and through the “blood of Jesus Christ” , ( “…that speaks better things than the blood of Abel …” Hebrews 12:24) because, Paul explains, “… without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) This fact is no better illustrated than God’s action in recovering Adam and Eve’s fallen state, by sacrificing animals and using their skins as a covering for their “nakedness!”
Quite possibly my favorite hymn says this:
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus, What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
G. Thomas Sharp
