This Advent, C4SO’s theme is “His Kingdom Come.” The kingdom of God on earth came first through Creation, then through Christ’s Advent, and will culminate in His final coming. God’s presence throughout scripture ties together this ancient longing for kingdom past, present and future.
On our blog and social media during Advent, we will feature scriptural paintings by the Rev. Lauri Diamond of Redemption Anglican Church that represent God’s presence, from the Garden of Eden; to Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac under the countless stars; to the presence of God both entering and leaving the temple; to Christ as suffering servant in front of Gethsemane and the cross. Together we will visually explore the scripture narrative, meditating on how the kingdom has come and longing ever more for its fullness.
Day 4 of Advent
(Wednesday, December 6)
The presence of God dwelling with His people in the garden was perfect relationship. Then Sin entered, severing the relationship. When Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God, their sin divided God from man, God from creation, man from man, and man from creation. The presence of God was divided from all of His creation. God’s promise to Abraham to bless the nations through his seed gave hope to mankind and to creation. Abraham’s faith in this promise was reckoned to him as righteousness.
~You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
Genesis 2:16-17
~And to Adam He said…cursed is the ground because of you.
Genesis 3:17
~And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:5-6
~And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Genesis 22:13
~ And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Genesis 22:15-18
[Painting by the Rev. Lauri Diamond. Meditation used with permission of Redemption Church.]
For more helpful Advent resources from around the Diocese, visit our Advent 2017 Resource Page.
