Sin Corrupts Everything - Day 4
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1
Since the day Adam and Eve were created, they lived in perfect purity and innocence. But after they sinned, their actions and attitudes evidenced the corruption of sin. Sin corrupts everything. The relationship they had with God no longer existed. Trust, love, purity, and innocence…gone!
In Genesis 3:7-9 we see by the deeds of Adam and Eve the very confusion and fear sin brings:
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”
The first thing we see is a new awareness: they knew they were naked. This knowledge revealed their innocence was gone. Sin corrupts holiness.
Second, since they were then alienated from God, separated by their sin, they no longer looked to God to provide for what they needed. Because by their sin, they no longer looked to God to provide for their needs. Because of sin, they perceived a new need; to cover their nakedness. They now tried to provide for themselves what they lacked. They attempted to cover up their shame, their sin. We do the same thing today. We judge ourselves and others by outward appearances. What do people do today to make themselves acceptable to God? Well, we do a lot of religious things. These may be good things to do. But if done for the wrong reasons, they will not be acceptable to God. Think about why we go to Church, give to the poor, read the Bible, be nice to our neighbors, etc. God judges our heart’s intentions. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
Third, sin corrupts relationships. Adam and Eve ran and hid from God. Their relationship was no longer one of unity and love in the bond of perfectness. Adam and Eve ran from the only one who truly loved them. Their thinking toward God changed from an attitude of love to fear. Did they rightfully fear God’s judgement? Yes, they did, because God had said that they would die the day they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And they knew that God always does what He says.
“Thank you, Father, for revealing to me the outward actions, my deeds, that result from my sin. Oh Father, may I quickly repent when you confront me with my sin and not run and hide from You. Amen.”
