Sin came to destroy
The loving couple Adam and Eve were enjoying themselves in the beautiful Garden of Eden. The environment was a perfect place to be romantic and to raise a family. They had everything they needed: a variety of fruits and vegetables, the friendship of the animals and the birds and fowls. A plentiful supply of water to drink and rivers to irrigate the garden God planted. Hunger and thirst were not in their vocabulary. They had to look after the garden and the environment. They were rich and free. Fear and insecurities never crossed their minds. Their minds were pure and holy. They were naked, but were never ashamed. . They had no knowledge of good and evil. Everything was righteous and perfect. God told Adam, even before Eve was created, that there was only one forbidden tree not to eat: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”(Gen.2: 16-17, NKJV).
So the Garden of Eden was a perfect place. It was originally declared that it was “very good” (Gen 1:31) But then…something happened…why…? Where did all begin…? The origin of sin is something of a mystery to some people. We can only find the answer from the Scriptures concerning the entrance of sin into the heart of Satan and subsequently into the human race. And as a consequence, it marred God’s masterpiece-man the crowning glory of His creation.
It all began, as Isaiah 14:12-17 gives us a clue what took place in the angelic realm:
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
16 Those who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
‘Is this the man who shook the earth.
and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a wilderness,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?’ (NIV UK)
We have here a scene of the fall of Lucifer, the son of the morning (the king of Babylon, vs.4). We can clearly see the rebellion of Satan towards God. Take note of his determination and the expressions he used, “I will” is repeatedly mentioned five times, and in particular the last one he said, “I will be like the Most High” (v.14). (You may also read Ezekiel 28:11-19)
Sin destroyed a wonderful environment, but also man’s relationship with God. Sin marred God’s beautiful creation. Sin is ugly! How could it be restored? (next series)
