Fully Devoted: The FallSample

The Fall

What was always meant to be beautiful and whole instead became distorted and fractured, when humanity chose their own desires over obedience to God. From the beginning, God wanted to partner with us, but we wanted to rule over Him. God had given Adam and Eve freedom to enjoy every aspect of creation with one notable exception: 

... “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17 NIV

That one restriction was too much. In the next chapter, we’re introduced to the serpent. He was more crafty than any of the other animals God had created. The serpent came and tempted the woman by telling her that eating from the tree would make her like God. It seemed too good for her to resist.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6 NIV

This is when sin first enters God’s creation—this rebellion against God meant rejecting His rule over our lives. 

Sin is so much more than simply making a mistake—sin is a corruption that has distorted and infected all of God’s creation. It’s the disease of self-centeredness that blinds us to the image of God in ourselves and others. It tricks us into believing we’re more valuable and important than others.

And because human beings—God’s representatives, placed in charge of His creation—rebelled, they brought all of creation into rebellion against God with them. The damage of sin isn’t limited to our own personal guilt. The damage of sin threw all of God’s creation into a state of chaos and disorder. 

The result is a fallen and rebellious world where things are not the way they should be. Instead of goodness, there’s evil. Instead of wholeness, there’s suffering. Instead of justice, there’s corruption. Instead of life, there’s death. 

But human rebellion will never overpower God’s plan for redemption. 

In the same chapter where sin enters, we catch the first glimpse of Jesus: 

So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 NIV

Just a few verses after sin is introduced, God introduces the promise of a Savior—and that Savior is Jesus. God promises that there will come a day when Jesus will crush the head of the serpent. The sacrifice of Jesus is already being previewed.

We rebelled against God, but Jesus redeemed us on the cross. And now, we’ve been invited by God to partner with Him to restore creation once again.

Journaling Questions

• What verse impacted you the most from the reading today? Why? 
• Have you ever had a moment when you ran from God?
• What do you think about God’s gift of life being free to mankind? How does that make you feel?

Memory Verse

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV