On that soon-coming day when mankind shall stand before the Creator (Rev. 20:11-15), I picture individuals, each pleading his or her case much like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden: Adam blaming his wife; Eve blaming the serpent (Gen. 3:12-13). And just as God refused to take their excuses then, He will not accept any excuses at the final judgment.
You see, throughout the time man has inhabited this orb, God has been making sure there will be no "escape clauses," or "legal loopholes" on judgment day; all of mankind will be found guilty of sin, and therefore deserving of death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23a)! Adam and Eve will not be able to blame their upbringing or their environment as a excuse, because their environment was perfect, and their "gene pool" will be a non-factor!
One result of Adam's sin, was that mankind acquired a conscience (Gen. 3:7-8). So for several generations, mankind knew they were evil, and they just did not care; Genesis 6:5 describes man thusly: "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." By grace, He saved eight souls from His wrath (1 Pet. 3:20). It was clear that there needed to be some form of restraint placed on humanity if there was to be any hope of its survival. So, following the fiasco at the "Tower of Babel," God created language groups which would develop into nations. And as nations, they "policed" themselves (poorly, but some government is better than anarchy).
After several generations, God chose one of the "nations" to be His messenger to the rest. He chose Israel, and through them, He revealed His definition of righteousness: the Law. Of course, even the best of men, epitomized by David (a man after God's own heart), was a hopeless failure at keeping the Law. In actuality, it was never capable of making man righteous; it merely served to teach man of his need for a Savior (Gal. 3:21-24)! And with the knowledge of the Savior, man is finally able to be considered righteous - Jesus gave His righteousness to all who will call upon Him for the forgiveness of sin (Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:21; etc.)! We who have believed the Gospel have the awesome privilege of understanding God's secrets, mysteries, and teachings cloaked in parables!
Matthew 13:34-35 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Mark 4:11-12 "And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
Romans 16:25-26 "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."
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