Have you ever watched a two-year-old trying to get a beloved toy back from a sibling or play-date buddy? Violence. Who taught a two-year-old to forcefully grab the toy, bite the kid, shove her sister, and lord over her victim when she already has a fake cupcake from the miniature kitchen (never mind that there are five other identical cupcakes strewn about on the floor)? Or, who taught your four-year-old niece to blame her aunt who lives 180 miles away when confronted about the “Big Apple Red” nail polish streaking up and down the bathroom walls? Children reveal the worst kept secret about humanity—we all have a propensity to lie, cheat, steal, and harm. But why?
Broken
Therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
eden has fallen
Yesterday we realized the very good news of the Trinity’s love for us and our role and responsibility to be like God—just, good, loving, kind. What happened? God never forces love, so when he made humanity, he gave us the choice to love him in return. Part of our love for God gets expressed through our obedience to God. Adam and Eve faced the choice to obey God’s command—eat whatever you want, the whole garden is yours, abundance and goodness at your fingertips, but don’t eat from this one tree—or to disobey and listen to the voice of another. In God’s good creation humans sat atop the created order, but now Adam and Eve chose to put themselves under the influence of the serpent. They were meant to rule, not succumb. In a moment of arrogance, weakness, and confusion, our first parents doubted God and listened to the voice of a liar. Cosmic terrorism broke into God’s perfect creation and everything felt the effects of sin. Everything.
the consequences of sin
Lions no longer lounge with lambs—they hunt. Trees no longer easily produce fruit—they labor. The sun no longer warms our bodies—it scorches. And humans no longer enjoy unhindered fellowship with God—we suffer. The effects of Adam and Eve’s rebellion reverberated from Eden and reached the farthest galaxy and penetrated the smallest atom. Sin broke everything. One of the far-reaching effects of sin gets passed down through every umbilical cord. Our first parents’ rebellion altered our DNA, and now every human is born with the propensity to do great harm and is born into a world that testifies to this truth. A full picture of the gospel recognizes that we need saving from the cosmic brokenness that was inaugurated in the garden.
The gospel declares the good news that someday we will return to Eden, lions will lounge with lambs, trees will freely feed us, the sun will tickle our skin with warmth, and we will walk with God.
Weekly Video
Rewatch this week's video
Daily Question
Have you considered the far-reaching effects of sin created by Adam and Eve’s rebellion? How do you see this play out in your own life and in the world around you?
Comments (10)
Thank you to our study partner
Sign up for IF:Equip
Get the Daily Devotionals Emailed to You
Sin pervades this world more and more: in the media, in what we watch and read and wear, in what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable in social norms and activities, in our groupings and roles and attitudes. And because such sin is viewed more as a choice – and often not a bad choice- peer pressure is even greater to do what is wrong. It takes strength and faith and learning on God to keep thoughts and actions clean and loving, and to go against the grain and continue reading, going to church, praying, and living honestly and lovingly in life.
I did not think about the animals and nature
Every single day in the form of anxiety and worry and wanting to control things out of my control.
Although I know I am forgiven… there are still consequences for my past sins. I accept them and I move forward, listening even more than I was before!
I can’t say I have actually thought about the far reaching effects of Adan and Eve’s rebellion as this is something that I have always been taught and never questioned and have always just taken it as that is why the world is the way it is.. However as our world is constantly changing and is becoming more and more accepting of things that go against God’s word I realize how important it is that I strive to be more Christ like is all I say and do in order to be an example for my family, friends and people I come in contact with so that hopefully they can all come to know Christ and experience the Love, Peace, Hope and Everlasting Life that only comes from knowing Christ.
Today I couldn’t help but feel a bit alarmed at the depths and subtleties of sin. In such an uncomfortable and unsettling way it almost feels ‘innocent’ and ‘natural’ to make elaborate explanations for any and all sinful behavior in so casting the blame anywhere else but on myself. I know I am not alone. I know that is all around me. I’m left contemplative on this with a desire to offer apologies/assuming responsibility for my sin without any sort of "but" linking an explanation.
I have been tempted by sin and now have to keep my eyes o mbv Jesus not to give in still.It is in the nature of man to sin. The sin i. the world is clear when you abide in The Word
Yes I do consider the far reaching hands of sin. I see it all the time, I feel like sin haunts us and sometimes we let it. Thats the best part of God though, his undying unrelenting love. I sin and fall short all the time, I must repent or else the risk seperation from God. My Father forgives me but I must forgive myself.
I am able to see sin in myself, my children, my family … ideas of my sin enter my mind and make me feel ashamed, guilty of my thoughts and actions. I confess my sins and look for forgiveness. Knowing that God’s love surrounds me.
I think we are lured by sin everyday. I think in today’s world we do lose sight of what is really important. My sins is not seeing the big picture of what I should be truly grateful for— I try not to be as self-centered. I have lots of positives and blessings. We need to keep a God Centered life.