Trouble and problems are everywhere. Sickness, unhappiness, and many evils are a part of life. Where did it all begin? Has it always been this way? The Bible, God’s Word, has the answers to these questions.
The first two chapters of the Bible tell about a beautiful garden called Eden. God created it for Adam and Eve to live in. God made them perfect and without sin. Eden was a place of peace and happiness. There were no problems or sickness. It was a very happy and beautiful place to live. He gave them every good thing from the garden to eat. In the midst of the garden, he planted the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told them that they would surely die if they ate the fruit of this tree.
Sadly, the tranquility in the garden did not last. One day the devil, God’s enemy, came to Eve in the form of a serpent. He asked Eve if God had said they should not eat of the forbidden tree. “Yes,” said Eve, “God said we would die if we ate of it.” The serpent replied, “You will not die when you eat of the tree; you will become like gods knowing good and evil.” When Eve looked at the fruit of the tree, she reached out her hand and took some. It was good to eat, and she shared some with Adam. As soon as they had eaten, they knew that something was wrong. They became afraid of God. When God came to talk to them, they hid themselves because they were ashamed of their sin. God asked them if they had disobeyed his command and spoke to them about the problems they would always have. Trouble had entered the world because of their disobedience. Toil, sickness, and death would now be part of every life on earth.
When God told them they would die if they disobeyed, He meant both physical and spiritual death. Before their disobedience, they were pure in heart and sinless. After they disobeyed, they became defiled in heart and were sinners in God’s eyes. Since that time, this spiritual death has come upon every person who has been born. Man’s nature, the very being of mankind, has changed from pure and sinless to selfish and sinful.
The Bible tells us in Psalms 14:3 that there is nobody who does good. In the New Testament we read that there is nothing good in our sinful nature. At times we want to do good, but we do evil instead. Other times we know we should not do evil, but we lack the power to do good, all because of our sinful nature (Romans 7:18-20).
Today, many people are unhappy because of their sin nature. People selfishly want their own way. Many lie, cheat, and steal. Some hold grudges and live in bitterness and hatred, because they will not forgive. Many homes have been broken as a result of selfishness and sin. Does this sound familiar to you? Can you identify with these issues? Do you have any of these problems?
This is not a hopeless situation. God has a wonderful plan for us! Because of God’s love for us, He sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross and take the punishment for our sins (John 3:16). Through the power of God, Jesus overcame death and arose from the grave. Because He arose from the dead, we can have victory over our sinful nature if we accept his sacrifice for our sins.
We need to surrender our entire life to God including our wants and desires and ask Him in faith to forgive our sins. Then He forgives us and we become a new person! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The new condition of our heart will reflect in our outward walk and choices. Before God’s forgiveness, we were separated from Him. Now, we are his child. The Bible has a beautiful way of saying this. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). When Jesus forgives our sins, he gives us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). The divine nature includes love, joy, and peace which God places in our heart.
How different our outlook on life becomes! We now choose to live for Christ, and sin does not dominate our life. God helps us love those who have mistreated us, forgive those who have hurt us, and have the power to be kind, loving, and patient. Homes that were unhappy can be filled with joy and fulfillment.
This change does not mean we will never make mistakes, but we can take them to God for forgiveness. God gives us the power to resist temptation and overcome sin. We will put others’ wants and desires before our own.
God’s plan for sending Jesus into this world to die and rise again was first to save us, then to give us power to live joyful and thankful lives, and to be of service to others!
Read the Bible today!