The bleakness of this black and white barren world will once again make way to one of vivid and illustrious color. Hold tight, it will come soon…not much longer…not too much longer…and we’ll be home. The fire will be warm and the delights unspeakable. But, in the meantime…
The pains and contortions of this life remain–front and center. A brief survey of history reveals that physical pain has only lately been relieved, and that merely in part. Morphine, the ubiquitous serum, has only recently entered the scene, and with it a plethora of exploratory and patchy usage. Just in the past century do we have a better understanding of how pain alleviation can be employed without drastic side effects and unintended consequences. The plight of such advances in science and medicine have, in the end, only served to mask a deeper problem. I say this at the risk of minimizing such advances, and in no way is this an attempt to trivialize the brilliance, innovation, and in the end the finishing of a life otherwise left to endure excruciating pain.
However…
Notwithstanding, man’s insatiable quest to reduce, numb, and eliminate pain has at best produced a temporary easing of the realities of life. You can only take so many pills to address a symptom, but at some point you have to address the first cause–the fact that a disease still remains. And this is a disease that has inexorable power and eternal ramifications. One doesn’t have to look far to see this played out in everyday life. It’s the loss of a loved one, a friend, a pet, and even the devastation of material things or the downward spiral of an otherwise healthy body and mind.
But, what is this disease? The first part of this series introduced it…this is the disease of death. You might say, well what about cancer, heart failure, accidents, stroke, aneurysms, et. al.? Aren’t those diseases? Yes, these certainly are, in a materialistic understanding; but they are in the end only symptoms of an ancient and cursed root of all diseases: that is to say, death itself.
Man was not intended to die. As you recall from the first two and a half chapters of the creation account, man and woman walked in glorious fellowship with the Father in full color and dimension as was intended. They were His vice-regents, set apart to “…be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.” But, their high-handed rebellion was, in one sense the casting of an evil and reprobate seed to fallow soil, and on the other hand a rejection of all that was previously provided for life, happiness, and fellowship with their Creator. This evil and reprobate seed has since penetrated every aspect of God’s created world. Its presence is unfelt by no one or no thing. Its effects are irreversible…or so it may seem. This is the origin of what is referred to as sin. The ultimate expression of a death within each beating heart and every element of life.
Was this rebellion a flaw in the plan of God? Was it some mistake? Perhaps that is what some may feel. Their presumption is that the first man and woman are simply ideas or types written to put forward an ideal of humanity, as it were; and in the inverse, the anti-type of how not to live as one reflects on their poor moral choice with a so-called forbidden fruit. To look at this in any other way would only reveal a mistake in the so-called literal creation. This view is convincing only to the extent that there is a suitable explanation for the unified narrative written into part of this universe. In the end, this view of life falls woefully short (to be addressed at a later time).
No, this was not a flaw in God’s creation, it was an exercise of a free will. Man and woman, that is to say, Adam & Eve were given the ability to choose right or wrong, to obey or not obey, to do good or in the end, evil. This is called by Augustine, posse peccare and posse non peccare. As RC Sproul rightly ascertains, “man had the ability to sin and the ability not to sin. Not sinning was a possibility that Adam had in the Garden.” There it is. The blessed life of the first man and woman–endowed with the blessed ability to choose. But, what about their posterity–their children? The moment they disobeyed, their condemnation was passed to all.
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…”
Romans 5:12
And so, the physical pain we feel, experience, taste, and endure came as a result of their one decision so many ancient days ago. This physical turmoil, this barren wasteland is a direct consequence of their decision. This is a black and white world, and it has produced evil continually.
But, lest we lose hope, there is a glimmer of light peaking on the horizon. Its radiance is too much to endure, and its beauty is inexpressible. It’s coming soon. But, before we discourse on this delectable wonder, we must address the spiritual state of man since this first act of disobedience. And that will be in the next installment.
Until then, meditate upon the realities of a fallen world. Don’t let yourself be numb to the pain. However, don’t let it overwhelm you either. Acknowledge it, but don’t wallow in it. There is hope to be considered and meditated upon, but not yet.
— May 13, 2016