The Significance of Earth’s Curse
By J. O. Corliss
It was well said of the Lord Jesus, “He hath done all things well.” Mark 7:37. Yet this same Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30. Putting these two statements together, one properly concludes that all Heaven has ever wrought for the durable uplift of humanity. Not only has this been the way in providing for the salvation of sinners, but it was so when the first man was called to see the light of life. He might have been created while the earth was “without form” and full of emptiness. Man might thus have been permitted to witness the unfolding of earth’s symmetry and loveliness from its bleak, chaotic stage. But in that case there would have lingered with him a sense of imperfection in creation, which might have furnished a foundation for attack upon his tenacity of purpose. This, however, was not the course pursued. On the contrary, the six days of creative advancement went on, bringing forth every conceivable beauty of nature, until the earth was completely ready to welcome its princely superintendent. Then as the breath of life from God animated the human image of his Creator, everything that his opening eyes beheld could but delight his soul, and call forth glorious expressions of loving gratitude toward the Bestower of such startling munificence. The Beauty of the Original Home
But since sin has made dense the human mind (Eph. 4:18), it is not possible to comprehend fully the plenitude of that which was lavished upon God’s first earthly representative. One may, however, read its brief description, and by comparing it with what he has seen of earth’s very best products, get a shadowy glint of the attractiveness of the first man’s Edenic surroundings. The story is that God planted a garden for the man, in which was every variety of graceful shrubbery, together with trees that produced every manner of serviceable food. A freely flowing river of sweet-scented water, portioned out in four channels, distributed itself to every part of the garden, and thus irrigated abundantly every nook of the delightful place. The spot was also embellished with resplendent gold which emitted beams of glittering light. With this were correlated pillars of beautiful white pearls, and transcendently colored green beryl. Everything, indeed, that could charm the eye and delight the senses, was freely bestowed upon the Eden home of our first parents. Gen. 2:8-15. Even a “tree of life” was given, from which the race might eat and live eternally. Dominion over all this and over every living creature besides, was given to man. To him all earthly animation was to yield obeisance, and thus through him, as God’s representative, render homage to their Creator. Of every tree in that charming home space man might freely eat, with a single exception. Gen. 2:16, 17. That one he was not permitted even to touch, if he would retain his God-given exaltation. But with continued fidelity to his Heaven-born trust, the blessing of Jehovah was his, and he was privileged also to bring into being numerous progeny to share jointly the wondrous blessings accorded him. Gen. 1:28. But best of all, the direct voice of the Eternal was pledged for comradeship to the newly begotten race, so long as heavenly allegiance was preeminent in its conduct. With such indescribable privileges before man, what an unaccountable violation of fellowship, what a heinous exhibition of delinquency, must have seemed, to the Searcher of hearts, this treasonable turning of the back upon an infinite Benefactor! But what an awful reaction followed! At once, the glory of God with which the creature had been clothed (Heb. 2:7), departed, leaving the culprit denuded and defenseless, as he attempted to conceal his disgraceful condition from the Lord’s inquest. At this point the scene is shifted. The dreadful truth has been revealed and confessed, and the trembling, guilty one is arraigned for sentence. Will the decision be rendered in harsh, derisive words, or will it savor of grief and sorrow for the suffering offender? It is well to study the decree of the righteous Judge, and learn, if possible, the motive of its version. The man had said, in his confession, that he was tempted to his6wrong course. Then said the divine Arbitrator, Because you have thus yielded to temptation, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; . . . thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; . . . in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” With this decision rendered, the man was next driven from his surroundings of matchless loveliness and positive plenty, to meet the realization of his doom. Gen. 3:17-24. “In Adam all die.” 1 Cor. 15:22. The sentence against Adam was therefore a sentence against the entire race descended from him. The earth, which had before bloomed in profusion under the blessing of Heaven, for the joy and peace of its possessors, was now placed under the curse of barrenness for the man’s sake—that is, in his behalf. What a seeming travesty! How could such an extreme change—one so far dissociated in every way from the original choice of God for His earthly image—possibly be in the interest of fallen man, who, one might think, needed choice surroundings more in that stage of existence, than when in his perfect state? But no line of subtle reasoning is needed to convince one that had not this change come about, man’s case would have been about hopeless; for unless he had been given to battle with “thorns and thistles” for sustenance, and later with the grim enemy death against being given back to old earth, from whence he was taken, and over which he had been placed as a prince of God, he might have become content with his lowly state, and never aspired to something better. He certainly could not have comprehended fully the enormity of his sin, which so greatly involved the entire race of his kindred. But as it was ordained, earth’s later plight has caused its dwellers to long for a higher and holier existence. Hence man’s hope of restoration to his original state and possession has been the theme of all ages. Patriarchs have entertained it, and prophets have predicted the probable time of its realization. Among the earliest recorded sayings of the Lord Jesus was this: “The meek . . . shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. This wonderful promise can not possibly meet its fulfilment so long as the original curse rests on everything earthly. But the time must certainly come when from the throne of heaven the announcement will issue, “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev. 21:5. Then Edenic beauty will reappear, and the saints of God will walk with Christ “in white” throughout the eternal ages. But when and how will this curseless age be revealed? It may be very near just now. Let us diligently study its prophetic herald, and be ready to meet this early changed condition.