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The Fall: Acknowledging the Devastation of Sin

So then, as through one man sin entered into the world, in this way death entered through sin. And death spread to all people, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

Sin always ends in a tragedy. Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments

God put humans in the Garden of Eden to be caretakers of his good and perfect world. With the privilege of representing God and the dignity of being stewards of God’s world, the stage seemed set for an eternal paradise where God and humans could enjoy the continual bliss of fellowship. As the crown of his creation, God had endowed humans not only with the prerogative of being his representatives but also with the freedom to rebel against him if they so dared.

This is where the story of creation took a tragic turn. Living within such a masterfully created world, no one could have imagined that lies would creep up against the truth, that evil would assault goodness, that filth would corrupt beauty, that bondage would enslave God’s free world, that evil would challenge justice, or that shame would attack dignity. Tragically, each of these occurred. To understand the world in which we live, we need to understand the cosmic disaster that occurred when the first humans forsook the goodness of God’s creation. Only by recognizing the reality of this tragedy can we ever begin to clearly envision God’s sovereign remedy for the world’s misfortunes.

We see God’s good world crumble in Genesis 3:1-24. This story helps us understand how the present world ended up in such painful straits. In this narrative, we read about Adam and Eve—the first humans set in perfect paradise—who willfully disobeyed God. Their sinful rebellion did far more than introduce a rebellious example to the world. Rather, their sin infected the world with a contagion. Like a deadly disorder or fatal disease, we are contaminated by the sin that Adam and Eve committed soon after their creation. We have inherited not only their guilt but also their tendency toward sin. This explains why presented with similar decisions on a daily basis, we so easily and frequently succumb to sin. Although we know the devastating repercussions of the Fall, we still fall prey to the deceitfulness of sin. We get caught up in patterns of sin, episodes of betrayal, and waves of rebellion. We rebel against God and forsake his good offer of life.

In this harrowing story, we learn about the effects of sin in the cosmos and in our daily lives. It teaches us about righteous living as it warns us of the dangers of sinful conduct. Disciples who read this narrative with attentive minds and humble hearts are equipped to resist temptations. As we awaken to our own tendency to sin, we realize our dire need for a Savior.

The disorder and disarray of this sinful world has been overturned by the redeeming work of Christ. He has provided a divine solution to human rebellion. If we probe this narrative with care, we can hear the warning of disobedience and enjoy God’s rich promise of victory over sin.