Read Along (Chapter 2): Why the world is all messed up

• Tweet
• Email

Welcome to the Read Along for Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story! Today we’re covering Chapter 2. Still need to buy your book? Grab it on Amazon or Paypal.

 “Eve put herself in God’s position when she ate the forbidden fruit, acting as the judge of what is ‘good’ and how she would enjoy that ‘good’ apart from God’s provision. And as God’s sub-regent over his creation, this is the mightiest act of rebellion against the King. The sub-regent is casting off the authority of the King and acting in her own name instead.[i] Ironically, the first couple’s quest to determine what constituted both good and evil apart from their King left them unable to enjoy the ‘good’ at all!”

Daughters of the King, Excerpt from Chapter 2

Unrest is the exact opposite of what God intended for us.

When God created the world, he called it good. Good because he is the Giver of good gifts and because he is wise judge of how we can get the most joy out of his good gifts.

And he intended for it to stay that way.

But when sin corrupted our goodness and the goodness of the King’s creation, we moved from a state of rest to unrest.

Sin is why we constantly battle unrest, both figuratively and literally. And ever since Eve put the forbidden fruit to her lips, humanity has been turning its wheels trying to get regain what was lost. Nothing looks the same. Nothing works the same. It’s why the world is so messed up.

Even as I typed that last sentence, I received a text from a dear friend asking for prayer. Her coworker just received news that her breast cancer had returned with a vengeance. And having already endured a double mastectomy, the news was devastating.

Our world is at unrest and we see it evidence of it every day – politically, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and more.

But the good news is that the King of the world hasn’t left us to careen toward our permanent undoing. The King’s rescue plan has already been enacted, and he seeks to redeem and restore, to hear and heal, to free and finally perfect us from our corruption.

Unrest, sickness, disease, persecution, betrayal – these things are not the end of our story, because they are not the end of God’s story.

Our King welcomes us back into his kingdom of rest once again.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Ps. 16:11

In the present age, the King’s invitation to rest isn’t a guarantee of safety, health, or wealth. Rather, it is the promise of dwelling once again with the Giver of all good gifts. As my all-time favorite Old Testament scholar, John Sailhamer, says: man’s “happiness does not consist of his being ‘like God’ so much as it does his being ‘with God,’ enjoying the blessings of his presence.”[ii]

True rest comes from dwelling in the very presence of the God of rest. This is the crux of the Gospel message: a good King created a good world, and although it was corrupted by sin, he is at work to completely restore it through his Son, Jesus Christ.

May we rest in him no matter what unrest comes our way.

Are you battling a specific example of unrest in your life? Please leave a comment for us so I can pray for you! I’d also love to hear your thoughts on Chapter 2! 

Now for our Wednesday in the Word Link-up! Link up your post about  God’s Word below. And be sure to grab the button to add to your site so your friends will know you are over here!