Why did Adam and Eve have to sin? Why did they mess things up? Why do I sin? Why are we now FALLEN?
We fall for the same reasons Adam and Eve did - we are tempted by our own lusts, and "when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death" (James 1:15). This truth is graphically illustrated in Lamentations 4. These Israelites (supposedly God's people) displayed the worst types of selfishness during the siege of Jerusalem. Here were little boys and girls who were literally starving to death. They had no food and no water. "The tongue of the infant cleaves to the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them" (4:4). These women refused to even nurse their children because they wanted to save themselves. In fact, my stomach lurches at the thought of Lamentations 4:10: "The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children; they became food for them because of the destruction of the daughter of my people." This was the ultimate in cruelty and hate. This was the opposite of "natural affection." Where were the motherly instincts? Where were the hearts that still loved their children?
Men have fallen far from their original creation in God's image. Let us beware lest we fall so far! Mankind is capable of this sort of selfishness and giving in to their own lust for life. But through God's power, men are also capable of so much more! Thank God for His forgiveness and His lovingkindness. Let us, as His redeemed children, reflect those characteristics.
Nathan