Pentecost 20 (Proper 22), October 6, 2024
A Beautiful Design Text: Genesis 2:18–25 Other Lessons: Psalm 128; Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18); Mark 10:2–16
Sermon Theme: God’s design for living makes good what was not good.
Sermon Goal: That hearers are strengthened in the conviction of God’s all-encompassing goodness for us and his creation.
Based on a sermon outline by Rev. Dr. Douglas L. Rutt as appearing in CPR.
Sermon: As impressive as human ingenuity and creativity is when it comes to great architecture, we see something immeasurably more magnificent and wondrous described for us in our reading from Genesis. Today’s Old Testament Reading tells us that God’s design is not just good; it’s perfect. His plan is a design that comes from his infinite wisdom, boundless love, and eternal goodness. God’s design is something that offers us hope in times of despair, direction when we’re lost and confused, and assurance when faced with uncertainty. Today, we’ll focus on ways in which God’s Design for Living Makes Good What Was Not Good.
God’s design for living provides for companionship (vv 18–24). There is a widespread epidemic of loneliness and isolation in our world today. Not good!
Despite the growing population and other ways of connecting, such as social media, people feel more alone than ever. The effects can be devastating for people, who can become depressed and discouraged. Perhaps you feel lonely or lack companionship. Even in church, sometimes, people are not connecting or developing meaningful relationships of trust and care. In God’s wisdom, he said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (v 18). He provided the animals, who were good for man yet not the suitable partner God desired for him. Adam needed the companionship God provided in the person of Eve, who was herself a marvelous “building” of God (see v 22) and who was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh (v 23).
Each of them needed the special relationship and partnership in overseeing the creation that God gave them. There would be complementarity in how they would work together, each with his or her own weaknesses and strengths. The special relationship between man and woman God ordained is called marriage. It is not to be entered into lightly, and is to be for life (Mk 10:9). This is not to say that those who do not marry for different reasons are somehow deficient. Not to marry and to live in celibacy can be a godly choice for some, as the examples of the apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus himself demonstrate. But in God’s good design, it is beneficial and a blessing to enjoy loving and trusting relationships with others. God’s design for living provides for future generations (v 24). God’s desire is that there would be future generations, which are a blessing (Psalm 128). It is out of God’s love that he desires more generations, as he has commanded, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). God wants families to grow. He wants more people to share in his fellowship. Thus, “the two shall become one flesh” (Mk 10:8; cf v 24). The procreation of the human race is God’s design and good for human beings. The family unit is a blessing to provide for consistency of companionship. The family unit is a blessing to children to come so that they be raised in the Lord’s “nurture and admonition” (Eph 6:4 KJV). God’s design for living provides freedom from shame (v 25; Heb 2:17). At the end of our text, it says that Adam and Eve “were not ashamed.” What a blessing to be free of any reason to hide anything from someone else. To be without shame means that neither Adam nor Eve had anything to hide—no thought, no deed, no desire that would be injurious to the other.
Something happened to God’s good design when sin entered the world. That would be very soon—with devastating effects (Genesis 3)! With sin came shame, as humans realized that their thoughts are impure and their actions are corrupt. The sense of shame is an insidious, debilitating experience that can crush our spirit if not dealt with. It can lead to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, anger, and feelings of emptiness. The effect of shame can be so intense that it can lead to self-destructive behavior such as addictions or even suicide. God’s design is that we not live with deep shame. There are many self-help strategies for “coping” with shame, but most only treat symptoms. Jesus Christ is the one who can truly remove our shame. He covers our shame with his righteousness (Rev 3:18). He endured the shame of the cross so that we need not suffer the devastating effects of shame (Heb 12:2). When our shame is covered by the righteousness of Christ, we can live together in community and fellowship, in close relationship with our loved ones—both within marriage and in friendships and family relationships other than marriage—that provide for the companionship that is a part of God’s perfect design. The human ingenuity and creativity that God has given to us are truly marvelous things. We have seen so many scientific advances and beautiful designs that have been a part of the human experience on this planet, from the achievements of modern medicine to the creation of architectural wonders. Yet nothing compares to the goodness of God’s design for living. It is a design that provides for human companionship, for future generations to live in his fellowship, and it provides an antidote, in Jesus Christ, to the devastating, relationship-ruining effects of shame in our lives. God’s design is truly a good design for living. Amen.