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Our Heritage In Adam
by Lani W. Finley
We sometimes read
the account of the fall of man without fully
realizing the damaging effects that this event had upon the human race.
The account of this event is much more than just a story about two people
in a garden. It penetrates to the core of human misery.
It is vitally important that we understand the destructive consequences of
Adam and Eve's first sin. It is the reason why this world so desperately
needs the saving grace of God.
We all know the
story surrounding the sin of man. Adam and Eve were deceived by the
cunning words of the serpent and ate the "forbidden fruit" (Gen. 3:1-7).
God had warned them that if they disbelieved the integrity of His word and
disobeyed His voice, they would surely die (Gen. 2:17).
We must not fail to fully grasp the devastating consequences of this
incident and how it is responsible for every tear that man has shed in
pain, grief and sorrow. The very moment that Adam and Eve transgressed the
instructions of God, three dark forces took control of the life and
destiny of mortal man. Death, human nature and damaged human
emotions. They filled the heart, soul and body of Adam and
Eve and launched the family of man into a collision course with disaster.
Sin had entered the human race and its consequences would be handed down
to all future generations. All the woes of mankind were
inherited at that very moment. Humanity had become a bond
slave to these cruel and unforgiving masters.
Man's
first new master was death. Man's relationship with God was
broken and death entered the soul of man. His body would begin to
deteriorate and be subject to suffering, pain, sickness, disease and
ultimately death. Eternal life had eluded our ancestors and was no longer
within their reach. God possesses the souls of all humanity and His law is
simple; the soul that sins shall die. "Behold, all souls are mine; as the
soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine:
the
soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek 18:4). Every
gravesite is a painful witness to this truth. This fact alone should
convince us to believe and trust in the every word that God speaks. Death
became a part of man's heritage.
His
second new master was human nature. Man's heart was now
focused on the self and driven to fulfill the sinful desires of the flesh.
Jealousy, lust, sensuality, envy and murder had replaced the innocence of
his heart. His new nature was hostile to God and he would begin to covet
the possessions of his fellowman. "Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither
indeed can be" (Rom 8:7). God's laws were revealed in order
to teach us how to love one another. However, man's fallen nature would
diminish his desire to share his love and possessions with others. Instead
of an inherent desire to give, he would become obsessed with the need to
possess and to protect the self.
His third new master was damaged human emotions.
Just as soon as Adam had sinned, he experienced in his heart, the anguish
of negative and damaged human emotions. The first human emotions that sin
produced within man's spirit were fear, guilt and shame and a desire to
run and hid from God.
"And he said, I
heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid {fear}
because I was naked {guilt and shame};
and I hid myself"{running from God} (Gen 3:10).
There is nothing more
tormenting and debilitating than these negative emotions. The offices of
pastors, doctors, and psychiatrists are filled with broken people who are
victims of these damaged emotions. Depression, mental illness and physical
sickness are often caused by unresolved guilt.
It has been estimated that up to one-half of the hospital beds in America
are occupied by patients with emotionally based illnesses. Some doctors
have stated, that many of their patients could be released, if they could
only be totally convinced that God has completely and
absolutely forgiven them. Hospitals and mental institutions
are testimonials to the fact that the stress of fear and guilt, will
eventually cause the human mind and body to break down.
The desire to run
and hide from God was also a product of man's fall. Pastor P.P.
Waldenstrom explains how sin had changed man's heart toward God.
...Just
as soon as Adam had sinned, he received in his heart another image of
God than he had had. Instead of returning, as a fallen son, to God
with confidence, he fled from Him with terror, hid himself from Him
and endeavored to conceal the truth from Him. The change, which
had taken place in Adam's heart, made him believe that God, also, had
changed.
Adam and Eve enjoyed
healthy emotions under the supervision God. However, their actions had
caused the turmoil of human emotions to replace the serenity that God had
given them. This too, was passed on to all generations.
This is our earthly
inheritance in Adam. Our ancestor's disobedience severed man's
relationship with God and brought chaos upon all flesh. Death, human
nature and damaged emotions had become man's new masters. How could he be
redeemed from this hopeless bondage? Who could pay such a high ransom and
free him from these evil and ruthless masters? How could his relationship
with God be restored?
The only answer,
which could be found in heaven or earth, was the blood
sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Our loving Creator had agreed to
offer His life, for His creation, before the foundation of the world
(Rev.13: 8). However, after Adam and Eve had sinned, the matter was now
settled. Jesus must die - or humanity would perish. Adam and Eve's sin not
only brought death to their future children, but it also caused the death
of our Creator, Jesus Christ. Back to beginning of booklet
