The Body, Our Earthly Tent

When we think of tents, we think of a temporary shelter used for camping, as well as for revival tent meetings. Although, large enough for many people to congregate, it does not provide the necessary features to satisfy our daily needs.  In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes a very interesting comment related to our body as a tent in this earthly home: For we know, he said, that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed, we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heaven. Allegorically speaking, he made the point that the body that hosts our soul and spirit is temporary and will be destroyed. Sin, the culprit of our eternal destination, has changed the direction of our eternal life as well as our life here on earth. Until Our Lord YAHSHUA came and freed us from eternal condemnation, we were slaves to sin and to the flesh, following Satan’s destination-hell. While in this mode, there was no hope for us. The Apostle Paul cries the miseries of a non-generated body expressing hopelessness asking the question: O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? Then he answers, O thank God! [He will] through YAHSHUA Messiah, our Lord! (Rom.7:25b). This earthly tent is subject to all kind of temptations and torment of the mind. Without the atonement of our Lord YHASHUA, we are desperately lost. Paul said that the mind of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed, it cannot (Rom. 8:7).

Our earthly tent in its natural form is under condemnation, for no sacrifice of bull or any other animal to cleanse men from sin is enough; it is powerless to take away sins; Hence when He [Messiah] entered into the world, He said, sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead, You have made ready a body for Me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight. Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God- [to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book (Heb. 10). Here stands the verdict that all who have accepted YAHSHUA as Lord and Savior and live accordingly to the Word of God, are indeed born- again and sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who guarantees their salvation; at the same time, they were given the right of sonship. God has become the Father of the redeemed by the blood of His Son, and waiting, we remain for the promise to be fulfilled, when we will be transformed into our glorified body. While in this body -tent, we groan for our freedom from it, for it is a tent of suffering. “Here indeed, in this [present abode, body] we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over with our heavenly dwelling. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply… (II Cor. 5:2,4a).

YAHSHUA, the First Born of the Dead

And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake (II Corinthians 5:15).

The ministry of reconciliation between God and men cost the life of YAHSHUA, for it was done by the shedding of His own blood. Reconciled with God, men are forgiven and given the position of God’s sons and daughters. We became God’s firstborn and part of the harvest of souls.  But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead, and He became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep; for since through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection of the dead [has come]. Therefore, if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! But all things are from God, who through YAHSHUA Messiah reconciled us to Himself and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against their trespasses and committing to us the message of reconciliation (I Cor. 5:17-19).

YAHSHUA died and was raised for the sake of those who live for Him. That is, who had been born again. His resurrection foreshadows the resurrection of believers at the time when He calls us up to heaven. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized saying, “Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for Your dew is as the dew of the dawn; and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits” (Isa. 26:19).  The redemptive work of YAHSHUA would be incomplete without His resurrection. Had He remained in the grave, we would be without hope and doomed to hell. Paul said, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen; and if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is devoid of truth and is fruitless; and further, those who have died in Christ have perished; if we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to pitied.  But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead, and He became the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For since through a man that death [came into the world, it is] also through a Man that the resurrection of the dead [has come]. For just as in Adam all people die, so also shall all in Christ be made alive But each in his own rank and turn: Christ is the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at His coming” (I Cor. 15:13-14;16-23)

Simon and the Cross

Beaten beyond recognition, weak, bones out of joint, His heart was like wax; softened; His strength was dried up like a fragment of clay pottery, so thirsty He was that His tongue cleaved to his jaws (Ps 22:15). That’s how YAHSHUA was found after they scourged Him merciless. At the right time, a man called Simon was coming from in (Jerusalem) from the country, when they laid on him the cross and made him carry it behind YAHSHUA. (Luke 23:26). I wonder if he knew what was going on that day, with YAHSHUA accompanied by soldiers and a host of people behind Him. Did he even know who YAHSHUA was, since he lived in a “Greek city in the province of Cyrenaica. This was a place where 100,000 Judean Jews had been forced to settle in 323-285 BC.” (Wikipedia). He was the father of Alexander and Rufus, who together with their mother were saved. Nothing is said in the Bible concerning Simon’s relationship with YAHSHUA. His name is of Jewish origin, but that does not confirm that he was a Jewish man. We read that he was made to carry the cross behind the Lord. That reminds us of YAHSHUA’S teaching about following Him; one must deny self, take up the cross and follow Him. Simon, here was doing what he was told to do, without realizing the deep meaning that was hid in that event. First of all, the cross he was carrying was not YAHSHUA’S. That cross was his and the world’s. Simon unaware of all the spiritual meaning of what was happening, was representing the world’s spiritual condition and in need of a Savior to save it. That cross signified a curse. The Bible says “Cursed is everyone who is hung on the tree (cross). Christ purchased our freedom from the curse of the Law by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Gal. 3:13). Simon was carrying a curse we all were under. Since Simon could not liberate us from it, YAHSHUA took it when arriving to the place for the sacrifice by means of crucifixion. That’s all Simon could have done, for he too needed a Savior to free him from the curse.

The Glory of the Gospel in YAHSHUA’S Face Overwhelmed the Glory of the Law in Moses’ Face

(Exodus34:28-33; II Corinthians 3:10-18)

“Shekinah Glory is a visible manifestation of God on earth, whose presence is portrayed through a natural occurrence.  The word shekinah is a Hebrew name meaning “dwelling” or “one who dwells”.  Shekinah Glory means “He caused to dwell,” referring to the divine presence of God.  It is the majestic presence or manifestation of God in which He descends to dwell among men.  Whenever the invisible God becomes visible, and whenever the omnipresence of God is localized, this is the Shekinah Glory.”

Ref:  Christianity.com, What is the meaning of shekinah glory Biblestudytools.com, The abiding presence of God.

When our Lord and Savior came to earth as a baby, a bright star shone in that dark night announcing His birth. That was a very special star. The Magi of those days well understood the meaning of that star and took years traveling to meet the King that star was pointing to. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, (the shepherds) and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them and they were terribly frightened; but the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11). The Shekinah Glory of the Gospel is YAHSHUA incarnated, bringing forgiveness to all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior- as the Son of God. John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me. For out of His fullness, we have all received one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift, for while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through YAHSHUA Messiah. (John 1:15-17).

When God came to mount Sinai, in His holiness, He came to establish the law with all its demands and consequences to covenant with Israel. The Bible says, Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord Descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus 19). God showed Israel His holiness, as never they had seen before. He said to Moses, Write these words, for after the purpose and character of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel; Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.  When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone and sent forth beams by reasons of his speaking with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they feared to come near him…Afterword, all Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all the Lord had said to him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. The Israelites saw the face of Moses, how the skin of it shone; and Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God (Exodus34).

I, the Lord, Have Spoken

The emphasis in this phrase, “I. the Lord, have spoken” is strong enough for us to consider the veracity of the Bible. In the beginning of all things, while creating the world, It was His spoken word that brought existence to what He commanded be created. And so, it was that the world was created in six days and on the seventh, He rested. He was pleased with all that He had created. He had only to speak and the power of His words brought life and form in everything that He created. At the command of the Lord’s voice all subjected to Him. There was sun light to govern the day and moon to govern the night; Man was created in God’s image; and a beautiful garden was provided for him to live in and tend to. “When the Lord speaks the word that He will speak and the word that He shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God.” The spoken word of God is powerful to perform that which He sends it for. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens and return not  there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me  void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”. The Bible says, “He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word” (Heb. 10:23b). The Lord spoke to Jeremiah and said, “I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12b). That confirms that the written word of God is alive and powerful to perform His purposes and fulfills His promises.

The voice of the Lord thunders in power and might; it causes the ocean to rise in judgment. When He came down to Mount Sinai it was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly; as the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice (Exodus 19:18-19). Then He spoke to the people of Israel in covenant with the nation, by giving them the ten commandments. They were all afraid when they perceived the thunderings and the lightenings, and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as [they] looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off (Exodus 20:18). Thunderings, lightenings, trumpet sounding, all represented the voice of the Lord in His  holiness and power.  Nor men, neither animals could stand at the foot of the mountain to face the physical presence of God, because of what nature became after sin entered the world. Sin, without a doubt, changed man and nature, causing them to be afraid of God and be separated from Him.  “Hear, oh, hear the roar of His voice and the sound of rumbling that goes out of His mouth! After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend” (Job 37:2-5). The letter to the Hebrews gives us a warning concerning our lack of zeal for the word of God: It says, “Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest, that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience, for the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life and spirit, and of joints and marrow, exposing and sifting and analyzing  and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart, and not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12-13).

It Was at the Cross Where Judgment and Mercy Met

In the Garden of Eden, the first judgment was pronounced to our parents for their disobedience to God. Sin, spreading to Adam’s and Eve’s children, their first son committed the sin of disobedience, as in his offering of fruits and vegetables to the Lord, instead of offering Him a lamb, as was commanded. And as a result, he committed murder by killing his brother. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Life is in the blood. The lamb was pointing to the Son of God, Who was to come in the far future as the Lamb of God to be sacrificed to redeem the world with His blood. There is life only in the blood. And the blood of YAHSHUA never dies, never lost its power to save and give life to all who seek Him. Cain misrepresented God’s future plan; he in his pride, offered of what he represented, not what God commanded him. It is when one tries to be saved through his own effort, disregarding the Word of God. The Bible says that we are saved by grace; it is not based on our work, it is a gift from God, and this gift was His Son, Who sacrificed His life, so we can live eternally with Him.  God pronounced judgment to Cain and for the rest of his life he was a wonderer. (Gen. 4:11-12). God said to Cain, and now you are cursed by reason of the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. A wonderer, Cain became separated from the rest of his world as a result of his disobedience and homicide.

Throughout the Old Testament, we read about God’s judgments on His people because of their practices of infidelity against God’s covenant “You shall have no other gods besides Me.” The Lord God takes very seriously the sin of infidelity. In Ezekiel 14:13-14,20 it reads: Son of man, when a land sins against Me by committing a trespassing and I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they would save but their own lives by their righteousness, says the Lord God… Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live says the Lord, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would but deliver their own lives by their righteousness. To transgress is to act contrary to God’s law. It is infidelity to the covenant God made with them, through the law, which requires both parties for its validity.

God Disarmed the Principalities and Powers That Were Raged Against Us

(Col. 2:15)

This spiritual warfare started in heaven, when the devil rebelled against God. He wanted to be like God in his prideful ways for having received a high honor of a cherub. The Bible describes him as “the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing… You were upon the holy mountain of God; you were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the carnelian, topaz, jasper, chrysolite, beryl, onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald; and your settings and your sockets and engravings were wrought in gold. On the day that you were created they were prepared” (Ezekiel 28:13,14). This is quite a description of Satan!  He had the highest position of all angels. He became proud and wanted to be like God, as a result, he was thrown out of heaven. From that time, he was called Satan, the devil. A destroyer, an accuser, a liar, a thief, a tormenter that’s what he is and more. YAHSHUA said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance” (John 10: 11).

What was really happening at the time YAHSHUA was crucified? Reading Genesis 3: 15 we see that YAHSHUA was fulfilling the prophecy of redemption for humankind. It reads, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel”. Satan’s head was bruised and treaded underfoot while YAHSHUA was being sacrificed. The Bible says, that “when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to the Law, to purchase the freedom of those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us” (Gal. 4:4-5). YAHSHUA, while on the cross, won the victory over Satan, and humankind was reconciled to God. In the suffering of the Son of God, while carrying our sins and diseases, we were reconciled with the Father and healed from diseases and Satan lost the battle.  We see that in His death, even nature revolted, when the earth shook and the rocks were split (Matt.27:51a) showing the tremendous connection it has with its Creator. It spoke loudly and clearly, but just a few understood it, as in the centurion and his soldiers.

It was all invisible to the human eye what was happening. But at that time the spiritual war raged to free mankind from the power of Satan and nature felt it. For it also suffers corruption, as a consequence of man’s sin. In Romans 8:19-23 Paul gives a picture of nature in its longing for their redemption. He said, “For even creation waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known; for the creation was subjected to frailty, not because of some intentional fault on its part, by the will of Him Who so subjected it- with the hope that nature itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now”. There at Calvary, at the death of YAHSHUA, their Creator, they understood that they too were being liberated from decay through the reconciliation between man and God.

There, on the cross, “YAHSHUA disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]” (Col. 2:15).  Before then, men’s spiritual situation was that they were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of their flesh. God brought to life together with [Christ] having forgiven us all our transgressions (Col. 2:13). We were slaves to sin and condemned through eternity. But our Lord, YAHSHUA in His loving-kindness took upon Himself the punishment that due us and set us free, disarming the principalities and the powers, which were holding us prisoners to them. Principalities and powers, in this case, correspond to spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places; evil spirits that oppose everything and everyone. In Ephesians 6 Paul tells us to put on the armor of God to be able successfully to stand up against all strategies and the deceits of the devil; “for we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly sphere” (vs. 12). The works of darkness are powerless, because YAHSHUA nailed them to the cross. Before the blood of YAHSHUA they cringe with fear. They well know about their end publicly expressed and acted against them there on the cross.

Silver and Gold I Do not Have

Those were days of miracles, days of power and revival. The ministry of YAHSHUA on earth had finished after His redeeming work for humanity. The twelve disciples minus one were instructed to carry on the work He had left behind for them to do. He set the foundation for His church and entrusted the disciples to continue the work until He returns to fetch His bride. His church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ YAHSHUA himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined together harmoniously, and it continues to rise into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph. 2:20-21). The church had its beginning at Pentecost. It was forty days later after His resurrection that He sent His Spirit to earth to bring about a revival in the beginning of the disciples’ ministry the world had never experienced. So, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place; when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting  and there appeared to them  tongues resembling fire, which were separated ad distributed and which settled on each one of them … when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect. (Acts 2:1-3,6). So, the church of YAHSHUA had its beginning in a most unique way. Unliky today’s many churches with its gods of many colors, and lifeless. Churches with doctrines contrary to God’s standards. Lifeless, their gods can only sit where they put them to be; some with their arms opened ready to receive children for a sacrifice.

The beautiful love of our Lord YAHSHUA has no measure. He gave all His life to redeem the world. And when He left the earth, He still stayed in the form of His Holy Spirit, to counsel, to guide, to teach, to convict and sanctify those to be according to the image of YAHSHUA, so that we might walk in holiness, as He is holy, until that day when we are taken from this world and are glorified. As He is, so we will be. Meanwhile, YAHSHUA gave the responsibility to the disciples to build His church. In those days of great revival, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and wonders, as a sign of His presence on earth. Those days were filled with wonders and people from all around witnessed and some participated in that movement. There were about three thousand souls saved during those days. Day after day the disciples regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose… constantly praising God and being in favor and good will with all the people; and the Lord kept adding daily those who were being saved. (Acts2). That was the time to be alive to experience first-hand the message of Gospel of YAHSHUA in its pure form. No denominations with their doctrinal differences; just the pure and fresh gospel straight from those who walked with YAHSHUA for three years, learning from Him and being trained for the purpose to carry on the ministry of the church. And here we have, the apostles in action! In Luke ten, we have the report of the seventy disciples after they return from their mission; they said, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name! Amazing what YAHSHUA answered them: He said, I saw Satan falling like a lightening from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power that the enemy [possesses] and nothing shall in any way harm you. (Luke 10:17-19). Before YAHSHUA ascended to heaven He commanded the disciples to go into all he nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you and behold, I am with you all the days to the close and consummation of the age. (Matt.28:19-20).

They Begged Him to Depart From Their Town

That day, was a very busy day for YAHSHUA. When He came down from the mountain, great throngs followed him (Matt.8:1). The people’s physical needs were many. On that day, He healed a leper, who worshipping Him said, Lord, If You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. YAHSHUA, with great compassion, reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed (vs2-3).  When going to Capernaum, He was met by a centurion, begging YAHSHUA to heal his servant. So, YAHSHUA healed the centurion’s servant. At Peter’s house, He found Peter’s mother-in-law lying ill with a fever; He touched her hand and the fever left her; she got up and began waiting on Him (vs.14-15). And thus, He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases (Isa.53:4). YAHSHUA’S life was the Word of God; He lived the Word, He preached the word. All prophecies coming from Him were fulfilled or will be fulfilled. Even before His trials, He fulfilled the Isaiah’s prophecy. People ran after Him to be healed and to hear Him teach. He was the most popular man on earth in His days. Perfect in all He said and done, yet, He was hatred by the Jewish authorities, even today many of them continue hating Him for no cause.

A Journey through the Desert of Life

For you did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are You works, and that my inner self knows right well; My frame was not hidden from You when I was bring formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them… (Ps. 139: 14-16).

The beautiful creation of man expresses the depth of the wisdom of our God! Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments! And how untraceable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood is thoughts, or who has been His counselor? … For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever! Amen. (Rom. 11:33- 34,36).

When God created man, He created him in His image, like no other creature he had created. Some special to consider and feel honored by. He gave man a beautiful garden to take care and live in. The earth was filled with beauty, as life was sinless and perfect. “It was good!” So, God said. Emerged in the wisdom of God in everything created, the world made its turns, bringing new days with the brightness of the sun which nourished and beautified all. A smile confirmed peace and joy all enjoyed. The Garden of Edem was the ornament of all lands and still is, because it is the Lord’s land. The fragrances the garden sent out were the fragrances of purity. Man needed nothing more to have his life complete and fulfilled, as God visited him and fellowshipped with him in the cool of the day.

The world enjoyed that period of time, short or long, I do not know, although, we wished that time would have lasted forever, as the pages of history would have had a different story to tell. We do not have understanding of what happened in that garden, but we have the promise that all will be changed someday. Meanwhile, life portrays that of Adam and Eve in their disobedience to God. The journey through this world became filled with challenges. We are born to die; the future is dark and uncertain in many ways, as dark as that day when Adam and Eve opened the door to sin, then sin entered into the world, bringing man the reality of his consequential destiny. The everyday choices we make in our journey will certainly dictate our day. Adam’s new journey started on cursed ground, on roads of thorns and with the sweat of his face he labored to provide food for the family and of course, life was not the same; death was now part of his life. Out of the dust he was formed, to that end he will return. It is rather depressing when we reason life this way: a beautiful beginning with a tragic end. New lives are sprouted every moment into the world, bringing happiness, a smile that will take a long time to fade. The future of everyone is written in the book of God. His Words determine the destiny of all lives. A journey is seen from the distance, with clear choices to make. Choices of all kinds, good or bad. As an example, Adam and Eve’s fall to sin changed the world, for sin continued spreading to all generations. When Cain, their first son, was born, he already had in his DNA the root of iniquity; His life was unique and strange. Becoming a vagabond, his life’s journey was rough and unpleasant, for he lived under God’s judgment.