THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN: EARTH IN CHAOS

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

"Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, you shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground . . ." (Gen. 3:17-19).

When man fell in the garden, he disrupted the entire universe. Man, by sinning, surrendered his dominion over all the earth to Satan (Gen. 1:26-30). One of the consequences of man's sin was a cursed earth which resulted in the disruption of man's relationship with his physical environment. Not long ago, right here in the south eastern part of the United States, tornadoes ripped through Alabama and Georgia. The destruction was massive, bringing lose of life, property and economic stability. Recently, floods nearly devastated parts of the south. Fires are presently raging uncontrollably throughout Florida. This is the disruption that recently has taken place just in America.

Paul used a poetic analogy to illustrate the child of God's earnest expectation by personifying the cursed earth. In Romans 8:19-21, the earth is depicted as looking forward to the coming of Jesus so it may be delivered from its bondage. "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Paul is saying that the creation was subject to decay because of the sins of man. God could not allow sinful man to live on a perfect earth. Thus, the earth was placed in bondage. Its deliverance comes when Jesus is revealed from heaven. According to 2 Peter 3:10, when Jesus returns, "The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

Just as the earth looks forward to Jesus return, so should the children of God. Right now, people live in a world that is destined for destruction. No matter how extreme environmentalists become, it will not be enough to save the planet. The world will not be destroyed because of lumberjacks, nuclear plants, automobiles, spray cans or acid rain. The earth will be destroyed as a consequence of the sins of man.

For the one who turns his life to Christ, there awaits a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). In this new place all will be peace. The waters there will be pure and clear (Rev. 22:1). The environment will be wholesome and even therapeutic (Rev. 22:2). The environment will be free of contamination (Rev. 21:27). There will be no threat to the ozone (Rev. 21:23-25). "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4). These blessings will be found in that place because there will be no more curse (Rev. 22:3). But only he who overcomes shall inherit these things (Rev. 21:7).