To Know the Blessing of Paradise

Deceit had entered into their spirit. When they heard the sound of his footsteps they hid. He offered them an opportunity to confess when he asked, "Where are you?" But when they injected the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil pride had come to replace humility. They could not receive the blessing of one one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered. They could not receive this blessing because they chose instead to cover their iniquity. And with deep grief and sorrow the light of blessing was extinguished. Hope, however, was not extinguished because a promise was given.

When the one who had been promised came he opened the book of Isaiah and read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." This was good news! The Lord had not forgotten His promise!

Who was this blessing for? "For this says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the highest holy place, and with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite."(Isaiah 57:15)  The God of eternity had once more come to have fellowship with his people. He came looking for those who were humble enough to be contrite instead of explaining and excusing their sin.

Paradise was lost when deception and pride entered into the heart of man. Even the beauty of paradise could not bring a feeling of happiness or a state of well-being when the relationship with God was broken. Yet Jesus came and offered a Kingdom blessing, not to the sinless but to those who were willing to come brokenhearted because of their sin.

Jesus went up onto the mountain and began to teach about the Kingdom. He said,"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5:3) Once more God was walking among His people and offering fellowship with those who would come to Him naked and unashamed after all isn't that what poverty of spirit really is?