Golden Cords

I started reading the Bible through as a child -- we were encouraged to read it once every year -- 3 chapters each day and 5 on Sunday -- and we did it! As an adult I am back to trying to read it through at least once a year. What I enjoy the most about it is that I can begin to pick up powerful threads,or cords, that link the whole Bible together. What wonderful discoveries these are! Reminding us that dozens of people, throughout hundreds of years, from places distant to each other, wrote as "they were inspired by the Holy Spirit," making it a complete story of God's unchanging grace and mercy toward us, His dependent children.

Here's the first "cord" in my collection, and it especially blesses me at Christmas time.

We read in Genesis 2 that in Eden the trees were pleasing to the eye and good for food, and a flowing river watered the garden.

Then sin entered the Garden.

Genesis 3:16-17. God tells Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat of the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."


Then at the closing chapter of the Bible, we read about the River of Life flowing from the throne of God and the Tree of Life, bearing fruit and leaves "for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse." (Rev. 22:3)

And then these words just make this Christmas carol more meaningful:

"No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found."
(Joy to the World, verse 3)


So, God's grace flows everywhere the curse is found -- No one is too bad to receive God's grace and no one is too good to need it! If we were to colonize the moon, no matter where we go in outer space, that becomes part of everywhere the curse is found. And everywhere His grace is displayed for us.

Have another "Cord?" Please share it with us.