It seems the whole nation was watching the progress of hurricane Irma in September, 2017 The image of that huge storm advancing on the tiny islands and the state of Florida was mesmerizing. Powerless before this malevolent storm, people prayed, wished, or cursed, willing it to turn or dissipate. The usual questions were raised, “Why can’t God…?” “How could a loving God…?” The answer can be found in Genesis chapter three. And it all starts with a lie.

Adam and Eve were living in a perfect world. The weather was always nice. All the food they needed was just waiting to be plucked off the trees in the garden. Whatever work they had to do was pleasing and satisfying, just tending that which God had provided. All the creatures lived in peace.

Satan enters and disturbs that peace. First, he creates doubt, “Did God really say…?” Next, he changes the focus from God’s bountiful provision, by exaggerating God’s one and only prohibition. “Any tree” not one tree. Eve jumps in with an answer, one that also exaggerates God’s prohibition, eat vs eat or touch. Satan then directly contradicts God, “You will not die!” “In fact, you will be like God!”

Eve thinks it over. The fruit is food, it would satisfy her hunger. The fruit looked good, it was aesthetically pleasing. So far, so good. The fruit would give her wisdom; she would know that which only God knew, and she desired it. Adam, who was right there, did not intervene. He was taken in, just like Eve, believing the lie that there would be no consequences from disobeying God. So they ate. This is the most tragic event in all of human history. (Read Genesis 3:1-8)

Imagine a peaceful garden. The birds are chirping and flitting about, the tiny creatures scurry along the ground and the cattle are grazing placidly in the field. The sun is bright, the air is warm, the breeze is gentle. Suddenly, everything stops. Something is wrong in a world where nothing was ever wrong before.

The birds know it, the creatures pause, bewildered by it, the cattle lift their heads sensing danger. The sun grows just a little dimmer, the breeze dies. It gets colder. Maybe the earth trembles just a bit. For the first time, fear enters the garden.

Suddenly Adam and Eve see evil in a place that formerly was all good; only good. Their nakedness has become shameful, they do not want to be seen. They grab some leaves and vines, and make coverings for themselves. And they try to hide from God.

God had said, “You must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you do, you will die”. On that day, when they did eat, death came into a world where death had been unknown. And everything died. Everything died in the sense that nothing, not humans, not creatures not the earth itself would be able to exist forever, to fulfill the purpose for which God created them. God’s glorious creation was now corrupted by human sin.

There were many consequences as a result of that sinful act. Here are just four of them:

1. The relationship with God was broken in such a way that no human work could fix it. The fig leaf garments couldn’t cover the shame of sin. Trust and openness with God was replaced by fear and suspicion. The whole human race came under this curse.
2. The marriage relationship was cursed. Instead of a loving, harmonious and complementary relationship, the blame game started.
3. Work was cursed. Instead of being a blessing, a pleasant exertion to complete satisfying tasks, work now would be hard, tedious, unsatisfying, and necessary just to survive. The bountiful banquet provided in the trees of the garden was replaced by sod-busting toil for daily bread.
4. The earth was cursed. God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you.” The pleasant garden becomes a dangerous world. The climate would change, necessitating shelter and clothing. Evidence of the curse is now everywhere; earthquakes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes, disease, starvation, and war.

And it all started with a lie, “Did God really say…?” Yes, God really did say. He said, “I am the creator God. You are my most magnificent creation. I will love you, I will provide for you, I will give you a beautiful, bountiful life. We will have a wonderful relationship; I am God, and you are my people. You were created for my glory. My only rule is that you cannot try to be what I Am.” Adam and Eve broke that rule.

So, when the people cry out today, “Why can’t God stop a hurricane?” or “How can a loving God allow all that devastation?” they are asking the wrong question. The real question they should be asking is “Why does God spare anyone?” Why doesn’t God just do away with the whole race, since we are a sinful and rebellious people. Why didn’t God just end it right there in the garden, let it all go up in smoke and return it to dust? The question is not, “Why does God let good people suffer?” The question is, “Why does God spare anyone from His perfectly righteous wrath?”

God’s righteous wrath brought on the curse, but His patient love and amazing grace provided an unearned reprieve. Genesis 3, verse 21 “The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.”

God lovingly provided a covering for their nakedness, for the shame that resulted from their sin. The skins of slain animals that God provided replaced the fig leaves which were inadequate; the fruitless works of man. God promised Eve, that one day her seed would produce a Savior who would crush Satan. Jesus, by His own suffering obedience to the Father, would bear the penalty for us. When Jesus was born, and lived, and died on the cross, those who would believe would be clothed in something far better than the skins of dead animals, they would be clothed with the very righteousness of Christ. His life, death and resurrection are the only work that can undo the curse we earned for ourselves in the garden.

What lies are being told today? What lies are we believing? Eve saw in the fruit of the tree the potential to satisfy her practical need, food; her aesthetic pleasure, and her desire for autonomy, a lust for forbidden knowledge, a compulsion to be her own god. She bought the lie that her life would be better if she believed Satan and disobeyed God.

Satan has not changed tactics. He still lies. He asks, “Is there a God? Did God really create the world? Is there really only one God? Is there really only one way to God? What do we need a God for, since we are so enlightened today? Can’t we define ourselves; can’t we be whatever we want to be, believe whatever we want to believe, do whatever it pleases us to do? Can’t we make up our own rules? Can’t we just be good and do good all on our own?”

Unlike Adam and Eve, people today are no longer ashamed to be naked in front of God. There is no outward consciousness of sin or shame. The truth has been suppressed. Instead the world is defiant, mocking, refusing to hear the truth, refusing to submit to the rule of their Creator God.

As tragic as the Fall was, and as bad as are the ongoing consequences of the Fall, all of scripture that follows Genesis 3 is about God’s plan to save His people; it’s all about Jesus, the Savior.

How are we, those who believe, how are we to live in this day and age?

1. We must accept the judicial penalty that God pronounced in the garden. It is a fact of life and accounts for all the trouble we see and experience. We must reject the idea that we are entitled to a good life if we are “good people.” Apart from the grace of God, we have no power to save ourselves from the ultimate consequence of the fall: death and an eternity in hell.

1 John 1:8 (CSB) If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

2. We must look forward with eager expectation the restoration of all things that God has promised to all who believe.

Romans 8:22-24 (CSB) For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved…

3. We must be content in our right relationship with God, as His beloved possession, His cherished children. We must let God be God, and rejoice in our position as forgiven people who await the return of Jesus and the day when all things will be restored.

John 14:27 (CSB) “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

John 16:33 (CSB) [Jesus said] I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Revelation 21:1-4 (CSB) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

One day that great tragedy will be undone. Amen! Come Lord Jesus!