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Devotional: Primordial Loneliness, Eternal Fellowship In the silent pause beyond Eden’s gate, Adam and Eve experienced the first pang of loneliness—the bitter taste of being cut off from God’s close presence. They stepped out of gan, the “enclosed garden of delight,” into a world stripped of its original perfection. The Hebrew word for “alone,” yaḥîd, speaks of being uniquely apart. Once surrounded by tôb mĕ’ōḏ (“very good”) creation, each sunrise now felt like a faint echo, as if memory had dimmed the light. These first travelers moved “east of Eden” (Gen 4:16), walking across soil that gaped with cracks as dry as old pottery. Silt swirled around brittle roots and jagged stones. Their footsteps through that barren land mirror our own journeys through unknown sorrow, guided by only half-remembered beauty. But exile does not have the final word. Into our broken story steps the Last Adam, Jesus Christ. He entered the wilderness—both literal desert and our own spiritual emptiness (Matt 4:1–11)—and faced every temptation. As Immanuel—עִמָּנוּ אֵל (“God with us,” Matt 1:23)—He carried the flaming sword that barred Eden (Gen 3:24) and quenched its fire with His pierced hands. His final breath poured out mercy, opening the gates we could not enter. So when Eden’s light grows dim in your memory and your heart trembles with that first loneliness, look to Christ. In Him, our solitude becomes a sanctuary; every weary step becomes a pilgrimage toward restored fellowship. Through tears and weariness, we enter a garden renewed, where sorrow is sown for joy and lonely hearts find their lasting home.

Results vs. Relationship: Distinguishing Divine Approval from Human Achievement There are those who have argued that results end all arguments and that physical results are the same with divine approval. However, Jesus had a different disposition when He said "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ " Math. 7:22-23 Our goal today is to determine the differences through the light of the Word and the inspiration of the Spirit. But First, What is Christ Saying In Math 7:15-23? 1. Physical Appearance Is Not Same As Spiritual Discernment. He said "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" Mat. 7:15 Note He said they COME to you in sheep's clothing. That means their interaction with you will never give away their identity. When they engage you they do so in a manner that is similar to the sheep. They have the form of Godliness but they are not transformed within. A person can act “holy”, speak 'holy' and still be a devil inside. Selah. 2. If it's Goal Is To Consume you and Not Replenish You, It can't be from God. Wolves feed on sheep, so if at the end you are the prey it can't be from God regardless of the result that they display. Jesus said I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly. If it does not promote and increase the life of God in you but aims to reduce it then it can't be from God. What You Should Know About Wolves. a. They represent The World and All That Is In It..which are: i Lust of the eyes, ii. Lust of the. Flesh, iii. The Pride Of Life. Jesus said to the disciples “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves…” Mat. 10:16 and he said “Go ye into all the world” in Mk. 16:15 thereby specifying the landscape of the assignment. However, we know that the word also says “...For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” 1 Jn 2:15 b. They Feed On Sheep, But How? Wolves feed on sheep by depleting the life of God within you through the promotion of the world (the lust of the eyes, Lust of the Flesh, and the pride of life.) When these 3 things increase life diminishes in you and you are dying even though you are breathing and increasing in riches daily. 3. Association With The Lord Is Not Thesame With Transformation By The Lord. Jesus said "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" Mat 7:23 Only a transformed person can DO the will of God. 4. Only Personal Fellowship Authenticates Divine Mandate. Jesus said "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never KNEW you;" Mat 7:22 the activities of these people look similar to that of a divine mandate when you consider what Jesus said in Math 28. After declaring Go ye! He said these signs shall follow the mandate. However from Matt 7..we see that the key thing is I NEVER KNEW you. This kind of knowledge takes place in fellowship where a man is literally, fully, and personally accountable to God. From Genesis through Moses and all the Prophets, even unto the New Testament, fellowship and communion have been the primary intention of God. But Why Fellowship? a. Fellowship Brings Transformation. The word says "But we all, with uncovered face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory" 2Cor. 3:18 Transformation is what the false prophets don't have which is why they appear as sheep but are wolves within..only fellowship transforms b. Fellowship Brings Revelation. In fellowship, you are taught the word of God by the revelation of the truth. So you don't just have head knowledge of the truth. You experience the truth. You experience what Jesus meant when He said "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.." n. 8:32 not just theory but a person. Jesus said I am the truth...so you know Jesus. c. In Fellowship The Will Of God Is Revealed. One key thing the false prophets don't have access to according to Jesus is the WILL of God. The will of God is revealed naturally in fellowship. It is in fellowship that God comes as a friend and tells you what His will per situation is; just like he did for Abraham when He said "And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do,...?" Gen. 18:17 d. In Fellowship Is Continous Guidance. There is nobody God guided once and left them to Rome on their own, No, no one! The word says "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought,..." Is. 58:11 Again Jesus says "However when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth..." Jn 16:13 If you are not ready to abide in fellowship continually you cannot be sure of guidance and when the Spirit no longer guides you another spirit will... e. In Fellowship Mandate Is Revealed, Renewed and Revalidated If Need Be. The mandate to dominate and replenish the earth was given to man as God conversed with him in fellowship and it was continually strengthened as He (God ) fellowshiped with them continually in the cool of the day. It was in fellowship God announced to Abraham "I will bless you and make your name great" Gen. 12:2 and it was in fellowship that every subsequent detail that enforced that mandate came. The birth of Isaac and every landmark in Abraham's journey came via fellowship. The fellowship point is a good place to pause today's writing while we continue in the next post in our quest to separate results from approval and clearly distinguish between approval from God and achievement by men. Amen. May your week and by extension your month be wrapped in the fellowship of and with the Lord Amen.