Failure to Act

"When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." -Genesis 3.6

And now we come to root of the problem. Up until this moment everything was perfect. Up until this moment everything functioned exactly as it was supposed to. Every relationship existed in perfect harmony. It was paradise. And a man screwed it all up.

For a long time I blamed woman for bringing sin into the world, and then I read Genesis 3.6 again, and noticed two words that changed everything, "with her". Adam was right there watching the whole thing happen. He heard everything the serpent said. He listened as the woman (she isn't named Eve until the end of chapter 3), misquoted God's command. And he just stands there silently letting it all happen. He doesn't speak up. He doesn't lead her away from the tree. He lets her fend for herself, pick some fruit, eat it, and then he follows her lead. Adam failed to play the man. He failed to lead his wife. He allowed her to take the position of leadership, and all of creation is cursed with sin because of it.

How often have we been guilty of the sin of silence and actionlessness? How many times have we watched injustice or dishonesty seize a foothold, while we slid into the shadows? How many times have we held our tongues when someone's character is assassinated in our presence? How much harm have we allowed because we have failed to act?

Men, this is a tendency that has been around since the first one of us walked the earth, and we've all inherited it. But we have to break the cycle. It's easy to do what he did. It's easy to hold keep still and silent. But it takes a man, a warrior, to act. It takes a man to silence the snake, and lead others into truth. Silence brings death, but action leads to life, and that is what men of God fight for.

Let us work to break the sin of inaction. Let us take a stand, digging in our heals, and refusing to let the enemy advance another step. Let us silence gossip. Let us stand up for the oppressed. Let us fight for truth.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor