King of Kings: An Advent Plan by New Life ChurchSample

The first indication of a Savior in Scripture can be found immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve. As they both shift blame for their sins to one another, God responds with truth and grace. Yes, Adam and Eve’s choices have incredibly painful consequences that would alter the course of all humanity. But God’s love would prevail! From the moment He meets them in the garden after their sin, He begins providing a way for His people to be saved and reconciled back to Him.

In Genesis 3:15, the Lord declares that although Satan will strike out at Eve’s descendants, there will be One (the Savior) who will conquer and crush the deceiver. God’s immediate response to Adam and Eve’s sin isn’t one of rejection or abandonment, but of provision. He first brings light to the situation by calling out what had been done wrong, then covers Adam and Eve, knowing they need shielding from their shame. This is the first sacrifice we see God make for His creation: He fashions clothing from animal skins for Adam and Eve, a foreshadowing of Christ being given for the sins of the world. God makes a way for us. 

God’s grace makes a way when we’ve burned all our bridges. He wants us not because we get it right, but because of His great love for us. We are His prize, His carefully formed creation. One of our core values at New Life Church is, “We believe in the value of a soul.” This value didn’t come from any self-derived conviction; we believe in the soul’s value because the Word is clear in passages like this: God is adamant that we are of an incredibly high value. As you read about the great lengths God went to to bring us a Savior, we pray you would see how valued you are in the Lord’s eyes. You are valued, not because you’ve earned it, but because of the love God has poured out for you! 

Application: It’s the souls of humanity that heaven and hell wage war for. When was the last time you thought of your value as something of eternal weight? What about the value of your family and the people around you each day? God gave the very best—the highest price He could for you. You are seen; you are loved. As you pray today, ask God to remind you of your true worth and how you can show people around you that they also have eternal value.