Adam’s Authority At Work With Jesus’ Power- From Paradise Lost to Victory Found
Ah, matey! Today we set sail for Paradise Island, where the winds be fair, the seas calm, and yer stay in port be an all-inclusive vacation, as it were.
Here in New Providence, every need be met and desire delivered by the hand of Skipper. Amidst this lush resort, we find a young lad in the prime of his life, with all the world his oyster, don’t ye know? But for the lad, though the island be lush and peaceful, with fishing that’s right fine, there be no lovely lass with which to share in the beauty and bounty—no mate to sail by his side. And solo sailing be a lonely passage, ye may lay ter that.
Watch, now, as Skipper causes the lad to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep. While he slumbers in his hammock with the distant sound of steel drums drifting on the breeze, Skipper takes a rib from the lad’s side, a heavenly touch creates a lass fine and fair as any lad could ask. Now the lad wakes, eyes wide, his tongue hangin’ out, and his armpits dripping with nervous sweat. He tucks one foot behind the other, and says sheepishly, “This be bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. You shall be called woman.”
“I very well shall not!” the lass replies. “My name be Eve.”
“Eve? Ye sure?”
“Look.” Pointin’ east, she says, “It be about to get dark.”
And so it was for though neither could be below the horizon a storm black as night be brewing.
Skipper blessed them both, sayin’, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the seas and the skies and all that moves upon the earth!” (Genesis 1:28) The pair lived in peace, hearts full of love, the island surf as good as any you might find breaking on shallow reefs and sandbars.
But then, that dark storm arrived, and with it a rival fleet flyin’ a blood-red flag with a devilish imp sproutin’ horns and holding a pitchfork. It wasn’t long before that sly snake of a captain set his eyes upon the lass. He whispered lies, and the lass, tempted by his cunning words, offered the lad a bite of some forbidden fruit. New to such delights and not wishing to disappoint his new—and only crew—the lad took a bite.
With this ill-fated choice, the fair winds of paradise became a gale.
Sin entered the world, and Skipper called to him, “Surf’s up. Why aren’t you out there?”
The lad answered, “I heard you sorting through my boards, but I was afraid, for I be naked, so I hid myself.”
“Who told ye ye were naked? Did ye eat from the tree I told ye not to?”
“I cannot tell a lie. The lass you made for me, she be one fine example of yer handiwork.”
“Thanks, but ye were warned.”
(Genesis 3:8-13)
Back where Skipper gathers to confer, he said, “Behold, the lass has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he take from the tree of life and live forever, I must boot him off Paradise Island.” (Genesis 3:22-24)
Though cast out, the lad still held authority over the earth. Skipper commanded the pair to be fruitful, multiply, and build surf shops so others would have a place to buy surf wax. But now, with the curse upon the land and sea, toil and hardship would follow. “Be fruitful and increase; rule over the fish, the fowl, and all the beasts of the earth,” Skip said, “But cursed be the ground, for in pain ye shall eat of coconuts and pineapples.” (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 3:17)
Even cast out and cursed to sail the Seven Seas, the lad still prospered, enjoying abundance in all he did, favor from others, and protection from Skip. (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:6, Deuteronomy 28:7, Galatians 3:29) (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
But aye, free will be a tricky thing, and that curse ter believe a lie and rebel against the better judgment of Skip be mighty indeed. Generation upon generation fell fer the lies of the sly snake of a captain, the devil.
Abraham, despite Skipper’s promise to bless him with a son through Sarah, took Hagar as a concubine, had relations, and from their union came Ishmael, whose descendants remain a foe to the offspring of Issac. Yet, even after Old Abe messed up, Skipper’s promised blessings fell upon his descendants with the refreshment of rain from heaven. (Genesis 16)
Lot, blessed alongside Abraham, chose to live in Sodom, a city full of sin and debauchery. Despite his righteousness, Lot lost a lot—all his possessions, his wife, and two sons-in-law. Only he, his two daughters, and a case of good red wine escaped the city’s destruction. (Genesis 13:12-13)
Jacob, blessed by Skipper, still carried the nature of a lying, thieving pirate. His life, marked by struggle and deception, was filled with strife, and yet Skipper’s plan continued through Jacob’s twelve sons—a brood who became the twelve tribes of Israel. (Genesis 27, Genesis 29:25)
Moses, a bit of a hot-head, but favored by both Skipper and Pharaoh, took matters into his own hands and murdered an Egyptian. For this, he fled to the desert, delaying the deliverance of Israel by thirty years. (Exodus 2:10-12)
In each instance, the sin of one man led to pain and suffering. Many a lubber has asked why Skipper allows suffering. They claim if Skip doesn’t stop bad things from happening, he can’t be a loving God. But Skip’s Code of Conduct makes it clear: Skipper gave us authority over land and sea and creatures and ourselves. Why, He can no more make us do what’s right than a father can make his boy do what’s right. Free will means all have the right to go their own way—or the wrong way. And what we do, good or ill, has consequences far beyond our tiny vessel.
Like Eve, Abe, Lot, Jaco, and Moses, too often we listen to the lies of the enemy. Skipper did not cause Abraham to take Hagar into his tent, Lot to live in Sodom, Jacob to deceive his father and steal Easau’s blessing, or Moses to lash out in anger and kill that Egyptian.
The good news, me hearty, is that we still enjoy the same authority that lass and Eve once had. In the Son, we inherit the same blessings and promises of Abraham and those with Moses under the Law. But glory be, we got a boatload more! In the Son, we also inherit the riches of heaven.
Because we be in the Son and the Son be in us, we be like a bottle floating in the sea. We be the vessel—the bottle—that be in the water, the Son. Except some of that water also ships inside us. So now we be in the water, but the water also be in us.
And because the Son be in us—some with only a splash, some filled—we have the power and authority to do the works the Son did when He walked on land and water.
The Son said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” He promised that through the power of the Holy Spirit, those who believe in Him will do even greater works. Believers in the Son have the same power that raised Him from the dead. The Son granted us authority to heal, cast out devils, and overcome all the power of the captain of that enemy fleet. Along with healing and power over dark forces, we also have spiritual gifts like prophecy and miracles. As ambassadors for the Son, we carry His message of reconciliation, acting on His behalf to bring justice, heal the broken, and reach out to the overlooked. By the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to be the Good News, spreading abundant life to all. We have the light of the Son inside. We have the authority of the first lad, and we carry the authority of the first lad raised from the dead—the Son Jesus.
With such authority, let us go forth and be the light of the Son into this dark world destroying the works of the devil. (Matthew 28:18-19) (John 14:12)
That be yer charge, crew. Don’t shirk yer duty. Skipper has given us all we need ter blast the enemy fleet out of the water. Man the cannons, mate! Give him a blow! The time be now used the weapons and authority ye received to live the life Skipper prepared fer the first lad—one of abundance and long waves wrapping onto a sandy shore!
