Lesson 88: Our Fall from Grace
From the beginning, since Adam and Eve, God has provided mankind with all he has needed for a full, complete life. He offered them His companionship, and His only requirement was that they acknowledge His authority over all things. He forbad them to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of sin, but satan tempted them, convincing them that there were pleasures beyond those that God provided, and that they could make themselves equal to God. This resulted in man’s loss of harmony with God, and man was consigned to labor for his living in a world that became fallen and broken because of sin. Today people still convince themselves that there are pleasures outside of those that God has given them. This is seen often in adultery, lust and covetousness as people try to believe that another relationship is better than the one God brought them to. This is all a result of pride, man convincing himself that he can control his own destiny, and find life more fulfilling apart from God’s will. We need to continually come back to the truth that pleasure and fulfillment outside of what God has made permissible (i.e. seeking the forbidden fruit) is worse for us, not better. These forbidden pleasures that promise joy leave us broken. We need to trust in the wise goodness of God and conform to His benevolent plan for our happiness within His creation order.