The History of Humankind

 

 

The history of the human race can be summarized in these three ways:

1.    We want to be exalted. However, we inevitably fail to achieve this.
2.    Instead, we realize that there is something terribly wrong for which we deserve punishment.
3.    We suppress this awareness by self-deception trying to prove ourselves worthy.

We find all three of these elements at play in the account of the Fall (Genesis 3). The tempter promised Eve (and Adam followed along) that they would become like God by eating the forbidden fruit from the forbidden tree of  “The Knowledge of Good and Evil.” However, instead of becoming God-like, they embarked on the path of death.

Ironically, God had intended to give them what they lusted after but in His way, by trusting in Him, according to His timing (Psalm 84: 11-12). However, by refusing to trust in Him, their sin had immediate and profound effects:

•    Genesis 3:7–8 …they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God...

Instead of confessing their sin, they foolishly believed that they could handle it on their own by merely covering themselves with fig leaves. We have been doing this ever since through pride, power, and possessions—all of which were denounced by Jesus:

•    Luke 16:15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Even worse, they could no longer face the truth about themselves and their sin. Their Creator gave them opportunities to humble themselves by confessing the truth, but instead, they blame-shifted:

•    Genesis 3:11–13 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Sin had taken charge of the human race, and we have been hiding from God ever since:
•    Romans 2:15 (NLT) They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

Consequently, we feel guilty and ashamed of ourselves. Instead of confessing our sins, we try to justify them through many devious devices. Since God’s laws are written into our DNA, unless we find His mercy, we will continue to experience inner turmoil. Therefore, we resort to self-justifications:

•    Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

We suppress the truth about ourselves and cannot tolerate exposure by the One who judges us:

•    Romans 1:18–20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

We have been running from God and His terrifying and revealing light ever since, covering ourselves with the fig leaves of money, power, attainments, and sexual conquests, whatever might make us feel worthy and entitled, while our conscience has been declaring the opposite. In view of this, Christ pronounced His condemnation upon humanity:

•    John 3:19–20 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

We are condemned by what we love—the darkness of self-deception—and we know it:

•    Romans 1:32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

We cover this awareness over with the fig leaves of self-righteousness and shake a defiant fist at heaven. Some will even punish or maim themselves to experience a brief reprieve from the punishment they know they deserve.

The Remedy—Reconciliation

We suffer from alienation from our Creator and need to be reconciled with Him. None of us can be good enough to earn anything good from Him. Our only hope is in His undeserved mercy. What then does He want from us?

•    1 John 1:8–9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We just need to be real with God and acknowledge our sins, trusting in His mercy through Jesus’ payment for sin on the cross.