Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 12 September 2023 07:51

The Fall of Man
by Joey Carroll Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

The most tragic and devastating moment in human history is recorded for us in Genesis 3 of the Bible. That one moment, known simply as “The Fall” marred humanity as well as every other created thing. The effects of The Fall continue to devastate our lives today. But that terrible moment was proceeded by the very best of times for humanity. Before The Fall, there were two people, a man named Adam and his wife Eve, who enjoyed something no one else has ever enjoyed since, a world without sin and an unhindered fellowship and communion with the Creator.
As we have learned over the last two weeks, Adam and Eve were created in the image of God and that meant so many wonderful things. Of those things, being given the privilege of having a unique relationship with God would have been without question the greatest of those things. To have access to the righteous wisdom of God as the singular guiding light in their lives is almost too wonderful to consider. To know from God Himself what to think, what to say, how to feel and what to do regarding everything was their pleasure and joy.
But being created in the image of God also came with a unique expectation that nothing else in all of creation had. A singular command was given to them not to do something. God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from a tree that stood in the middle of the garden of Eden in which God had created for them to live.

The biblical account of Adam and Eve has often been reduced to the ranks of fairy tales and metaphors especially in our day. But most Bible critics discount the fact that Adam was included in a number of key places in the Bible other than in the beginning. For instance, the greatest history writer in the New Testament, Doctor Luke used a historical Adam to help us follow in the genealogy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For the Apostle Paul, the existence of a historical Adam is absolutely necessary in order that we might understand several key doctrines of the Christian faith. In Romans 5, a historical Adam is necessary for understanding the doctrine of the depravity of man. In 1 Corinthians 15, a historical Adam is used to confirm the resurrection of Jesus as well as the future hope of our own resurrection. In 1 Timothy, a historical Adam is necessary to understand a much mistreated and forgotten principle for church order.

But as necessary as this couple is for understanding genealogies, doctrines and church governance, their most significant impact on the history of humanity came when they rejected the wisdom of an all-wise God and disobeyed the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God had warned them that disobedience to His command would result in death. But the command and the warning did not prevent them from disobeying God. Of course, they were not alone in their disobedience. They were certainly tempted to follow this fateful course of action by someone who came to deceive them. But the ripple effects of their actions have grown over time, and we continue to suffer from their disobedience today.

Do you know why you have sinful thoughts that you are often ashamed of? Do you know why you do things that you know to be wrong? Do you know why you suffer in your life from broken relationships and disappointments? Do you know why there is so much pain and suffering in the world today? Do you know why it is that everyone dies? The answers to all of these questions are found in the rebellion of a historical couple, Adam and Eve. Next week we will consider all of Adam and Eve’s devastating effects on humanity.