- The one who changes his beliefs is likely preparing to change the way he lives.
This is what happened when humans originally rejected their Creator’s will for them.
It began with a competing truth-claim, with an offer of a different worldview.
The being known later as “Satan” offered the first woman (Eve) an alternate way of looking at reality. Before this her understanding was based on the way her Maker explained it. Satan, however, offered a different way of looking at life. He offered a different version of reality and of what happens when one abandons the will of the Creator, of God.
No philosophical detachment here
The offer was made in the alluring context of self-interest. It wasn’t offered in detached philosophical discussion (although it often begins this way). It was a deceptively twisted version of reality intended to lure her to place herself and self-interest at the center.
It started with a subtle suggestion that the God who created her is overly restrictive in His demands. It moved next to an outright denial of the stated consequences of disobedience to God. It was couched in what has been called the suspicion of Eden — that the good life is outside of the will of God, not within it.
This is the predictable pattern of sin. Eve saw what was forbidden, desired it, took it and gave it (Genesis 3:6). Saw. Desired. Took. The ongoing generational consequences of this original act of rebellion have been both predictable and disastrous! (see: Genesis 3-4; Romans 5:12ff.).
There is a clear and compelling connection with this account and with the reality we all understand.
Seven consequences emerged from this act of disobedience to God — each one affecting major areas of human existence, and each one providing a background to the primary occupational majors at our Universities.
These seven consequences correspond directly with the human story every day.
- Physiological: death, decay, sickness and suffering (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 5:12; 8:19-22)
- Psychological: shame, guilt, fear (Gen. 3:7).
- Sociological: blame shifting, hiding, alienation (Gen. 3:8, 12-13). Sin separates people.
- Ecological: ground is cursed, thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-19).
- Spiritual: hiding from God, enmity: seed of woman and seed of Serpent (Gen. 3:8, 15, 4:1-15; I John 3:12)
- Epistemological: distorted thinking, spiritual blindness (II Cor. 4:3-6; Rom. 1:28)
- Criminal: murder! (fratricide) – Genesis 4
How significant it is that our Universities and colleges offer majors related to each of the seven areas above — doctors, psychologists, sociologists, environmentalists, ministers, philosophers, law enforcement.
Extended Results (Genesis 4)
Corresponding with reality in every part of the world (throughout all of human history), the results observed in the first offspring of Adam and Eve (Cain) display tragic expressions of human evil — rebellion, anger, envy, hatred, bitterness, lying and murder.
One can only imagine the grief that filled Eve’s heart at the death of her second son (Abel) at the hands of her first son (Cain). It is worth noting that Scripture identifies Cain as belonging to Satan (I John 3:12; cf. John 8:44). He bears unmistakable family resemblance.