Adam and Eve had gone astray by disobeying God in eating the fruit He had given them express instruction not to eat. But then, He found them and asked a penitent, soul-searching question: "Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" (Genesis 3:11).

The reason many people find it too difficult and almost impossible to repent is because they think that God does not and cannot see everything that is done under the sun. Thinking His knowledge is limited, "they say, how does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?" (Psalm 73:11). They continue in their sinful activities "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 8:11). They take undue advantage of God's mercy and long-suffering.

The Lord has given man His word and the Spirit of God in man is the centre of conscience and discernment. It provides an outlet for God's light to let in spiritual understanding and wisdom and to direct our inner life.

As we draw nearer to God, we must appreciate the fact that left alone, we will perish. Our daily prayer should be "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Oh LORD, correct me, but with judgement; not in thine anger..." (Jeremiah 10:23,24).