For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Adam's rebellion subjected humanity and all creation to futility, not by nature's choice but by God's act, forfeiting man's rightful dominion and spreading rebellion through the lower creatures. The curse fell broadly upon earth and sea, man and cattle and beasts, fish and all flesh, trees and grass and air, leaving nature confused, decaying and increasingly barren so that cultivation requires heavy labor. The once fair creation has lost its original brightness under this blight, and though still beautiful with traces of its first loveliness it is marred and defiled by sin and gives only an imperfect revelation of God's character. Yet this subjection was in hope, for rightly studied nature still speaks of its Creator, and the discipline of this life prepares men to be restored to God's image as sons of God with a glorious destiny to be fully revealed hereafter. The curse is now felt more decidedly every year as transgression becomes almost universal, seen in prevailing disease among animals in cancers, tumors and consumption that make flesh and milk unsafe to use.
Sin's Curse on Creation
Adam's transgression brought humanity and all creation into subjection to vanity. While he remained loyal to God he stood as king among the lower creatures and all nature acknowledged his rule, but when he transgressed that dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion to which he gave entrance extended throughout the animal creation, so that not only the life of man but the nature of the beasts bears the effects and tells the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil.
The curse that came upon the earth because of sin fell upon the whole creation, upon the earth itself, the sea, man, cattle and beasts, the fish of the sea and all flesh, even the trees of the forest, the grass of the field and the very air he breathed. Animals languish under this curse today, and the evidence abounds everywhere in disease prevailing among them to an alarming extent. That evidence is seen in cancers and tumors, in living creatures peopling the tissues of swine, and in tubercular consumption communicated to men and women by meat eating.
Sin has marred and defiled the natural world, which was originally full of brightness and divine instruction. The fair creation has lost its original brightness under a blight marking its subjection to vanity, though traces of its primal loveliness remain and it remains beautiful. Marred by sin's curse it gives only an imperfect testimony about its Creator and cannot reveal God's character in its perfection, while human wickedness further defiles it and makes it a place of moral corruption.
God forbade the earth to carry out its original purpose, so all nature is confused and the curse rests upon all creation. Nature decays and the land becomes increasingly barren and difficult to cultivate, requiring greater labor and tools to ease the burden. The falling and decaying leaf was evidence of this curse, seen as Adam saw leaves fall, flowers droop and trees lose their leaves, and these signs grieved him because they displayed the ruin of the beautiful natural world made for humanity.
As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. It is felt more decidedly every year, with no peace to the wicked. The earth is decaying under that curse, so that soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds.
Hope and Present Duty
Sin has marred the natural world, which was made full of knowledge of God and divine instruction, yet though it no longer displays its original brightness its lessons have not been erased. Rightly studied, nature still speaks of its Creator and can help lead to spiritual truth.
The subjection of the creature to vanity was in hope, for the object of creation is to honor God and bless fellow men. The discipline of this life prepares for the dignity and honor to which humanity is called, even to become sons of God. Education begun here will be continued in the life to come, and eternity alone will reveal the glorious destiny to which man, restored to God's image, may attain. The full joy and blessing of that destiny will be reached in the hereafter.
The curse that came because of sin fell on the whole creation, and animals languish under it today. Evidence abounds everywhere in disease prevailing among them to an alarming extent. That includes cancers and tumors, living creatures peopling the tissues of swine, and tubercular consumption communicated to men and women by meat eating. Because of transgression of God's commandments the curse has come upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, with human beings suffering the result of their own departure from His commandments and beasts also suffering under the curse.
Disease in cattle makes meat eating dangerous, with diseased flesh of dead carcasses sold in marketplaces bringing disease among men and suffering as the sure result of persisting in that diet. There is no safety in eating the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of cows and anything coming from animal creation will not be safe to use. The curse rests on the earth, the sea, the cattle and the animals, and the earth is decaying under it, so that soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds.
Adam's transgression subjected the entire human family and all nature to vanity, with God forbidding the earth to carry out its original purpose so that all nature is confused. Under that curse there is no peace to the wicked, and it is felt more decidedly every year. Yet God moves slowly in His great purpose for the benefit of the righteous, as He would have spared Sodom for ten righteous persons. The vials of His wrath will soon be poured out, so hearts must be right with God for defense in the time of trouble.
Adam's rebellion subjected humanity and all creation to futility, not by nature's choice but by God's act, forfeiting man's rightful dominion and spreading rebellion through the lower creatures. The curse fell broadly upon earth and sea, man and cattle and beasts, fish and all flesh, trees and grass and air, leaving nature confused, decaying and increasingly barren so that cultivation requires heavy labor. The once fair creation has lost its original brightness under this blight, and though still beautiful with traces of its first loveliness it is marred and defiled by sin and gives only an imperfect revelation of God's character. Yet this subjection was in hope, for rightly studied nature still speaks of its Creator, and the discipline of this life prepares men to be restored to God's image as sons of God with a glorious destiny to be fully revealed hereafter. The curse is now felt more decidedly every year as transgression becomes almost universal, seen in prevailing disease among animals in cancers, tumors and consumption that make flesh and milk unsafe to use.
Sin's Curse on Creation
Adam's transgression brought humanity and all creation into subjection to vanity. While he remained loyal to God he stood as king among the lower creatures and all nature acknowledged his rule, but when he transgressed that dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion to which he gave entrance extended throughout the animal creation, so that not only the life of man but the nature of the beasts bears the effects and tells the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil.
The curse that came upon the earth because of sin fell upon the whole creation, upon the earth itself, the sea, man, cattle and beasts, the fish of the sea and all flesh, even the trees of the forest, the grass of the field and the very air he breathed. Animals languish under this curse today, and the evidence abounds everywhere in disease prevailing among them to an alarming extent. That evidence is seen in cancers and tumors, in living creatures peopling the tissues of swine, and in tubercular consumption communicated to men and women by meat eating.
Sin has marred and defiled the natural world, which was originally full of brightness and divine instruction. The fair creation has lost its original brightness under a blight marking its subjection to vanity, though traces of its primal loveliness remain and it remains beautiful. Marred by sin's curse it gives only an imperfect testimony about its Creator and cannot reveal God's character in its perfection, while human wickedness further defiles it and makes it a place of moral corruption.
God forbade the earth to carry out its original purpose, so all nature is confused and the curse rests upon all creation. Nature decays and the land becomes increasingly barren and difficult to cultivate, requiring greater labor and tools to ease the burden. The falling and decaying leaf was evidence of this curse, seen as Adam saw leaves fall, flowers droop and trees lose their leaves, and these signs grieved him because they displayed the ruin of the beautiful natural world made for humanity.
As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression. It is felt more decidedly every year, with no peace to the wicked. The earth is decaying under that curse, so that soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds.
Hope and Present Duty
Sin has marred the natural world, which was made full of knowledge of God and divine instruction, yet though it no longer displays its original brightness its lessons have not been erased. Rightly studied, nature still speaks of its Creator and can help lead to spiritual truth.
The subjection of the creature to vanity was in hope, for the object of creation is to honor God and bless fellow men. The discipline of this life prepares for the dignity and honor to which humanity is called, even to become sons of God. Education begun here will be continued in the life to come, and eternity alone will reveal the glorious destiny to which man, restored to God's image, may attain. The full joy and blessing of that destiny will be reached in the hereafter.
The curse that came because of sin fell on the whole creation, and animals languish under it today. Evidence abounds everywhere in disease prevailing among them to an alarming extent. That includes cancers and tumors, living creatures peopling the tissues of swine, and tubercular consumption communicated to men and women by meat eating. Because of transgression of God's commandments the curse has come upon the earth itself, upon man, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, with human beings suffering the result of their own departure from His commandments and beasts also suffering under the curse.
Disease in cattle makes meat eating dangerous, with diseased flesh of dead carcasses sold in marketplaces bringing disease among men and suffering as the sure result of persisting in that diet. There is no safety in eating the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of cows and anything coming from animal creation will not be safe to use. The curse rests on the earth, the sea, the cattle and the animals, and the earth is decaying under it, so that soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds.
Adam's transgression subjected the entire human family and all nature to vanity, with God forbidding the earth to carry out its original purpose so that all nature is confused. Under that curse there is no peace to the wicked, and it is felt more decidedly every year. Yet God moves slowly in His great purpose for the benefit of the righteous, as He would have spared Sodom for ten righteous persons. The vials of His wrath will soon be poured out, so hearts must be right with God for defense in the time of trouble.