The Foolishness of Fallen Man

by John Waddey⁽⁴³⁾
firstcenturychristian

The human race was created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26), free from sin (Eccle 7:9) In his original state man was suited to live forever in a loving relationship with his Creator. The Genesis record relates how Satan used lies and guile to deceive the first couple and lead them into sinful disobedience to their Creator (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-6). This robbed them of their innocence, corrupted their hearts and alienated them from God. We describe this sad event as "the fall of man." They fell from their high state of innocence and purity into the degenerate state of sin. In that fallen state, the world lives today (Rom. 5:12). Although God quickly made provision for fallen men and women to seek His forgiveness and restoration to his fellowship, the great majority have consistently refused to do so. As Jesus put it, many have been called but few have been chosen (Matt. 22:14). Paul wrote, only a remnant shall be saved (Rom. 9:27).

In his fallen state, man’s behavior is often foolish, irrational, rebellious and destructive. Paul aptly describes this fallen state, "being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart..." (Eph. 4:18).

They live in rebellion to Jehovah

their Creator. They stubbornly deny that He created them. To concede their origin by Divine creation, is to admit they have a duty to obey Him. This they are unwilling to do. To maintain their illusion that they are autonomous, they argue against all the facts and proclaim that they are descended from lower forms of life by natural selection. This they proudly call evolution. Of course, they cannot explain the origin of the first form of life on earth from which they claim descent. Rather they claim with honor the dignity of being made in God’s image, they clinch their teeth, shut their ears and shout, "I am not made in God’s image, I am descended from monkeys." Such is the darkness of their fallen minds.

Rather than acknowledge God’s power and authority over them, they deny his existence and imagine that they themselves are their own gods! That was Satan’s effective ploy in Eden. The telling blow was when he falsely promised them, "ye shall be gods" (Gen.3:5 foot note). They took the fruit, expecting to rise above themselves to the level of deity. Instead they fell, plunging into a state of misery and death that we experience to this day. Today, a goodly portion of humanity seek godhood in Hinduism and New Age Cults. Even some rank unbelievers declare that they are gods.

Since Eden, a goodly portion of the human race has preferred gods of their own design to Jehovah the almighty Creator. Paul, viewing the highly cultured Greco-Roman society of his day, wrote that they were "Vain in their reasonings and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things...who...worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..." (Rom. 1:22-25). It stirs our curiosity to observe, Hindus, Buddhists and animists bowing before their graven images. But it is revolting to see folks who claim to be the one universal church bowing before their graven images of Jesus, Mary and other saints of their pantheon. Surely they are without excuse (Deut. 5:8; I John 5:21).

Fallen man often reject God’s sacred book, the Bible which communicates His will for mans life and worship. Some insist it is the uninspired, human product of the early Christians. Thus they ignore its commands and warnings. Others concede it may have a germ of truth here or there, but it is filled with mistakes, myths, fables and inconsistencies. Some praise its literary style and poetic beauty, but take none of it seriously for their 21^st century lives. Yet theses same people want the respectability of being known as Christians and of course they expect heaven for their eternal home. Strangely, this same type of person, who discounts the Bible, is often infatuated with apocryphal books, ancient forgeries written by heretics such as the Gospel of Thomas. They salivate over the Celestine Prophesy and Nostradamus’ Book of Prophesies. The Baghdad Vendettas fascinate them as do similar books by pagan gurus. Ron Hubbards’s Dionetics delight them They are captivated by movies like the DaVinci Code. When they read these religious books composed by sinners like themselves, they feel no compunction to obey them. But the living message of the Bible affects their hearts like the trust of a sword (Acts 2:37). It convicts them and demands a response. Thus they thrust it from them. The crystal pure waters of Scripture do not appeal to their jaded taste. They prefer the polluted waters from rivers of human wisdom. Surely their foolish hearts are darkened.

Paul clearly understood this kind of fallen heart. He saw that they are alienated from God through ignorance and the blindness of their hearts and their understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:18). "Professing themselves to be wise, they (become) fools..." (Rom. 1:22).

For those who reach up in faith to embrace the hand of their Creator and Savior, God says, "Blessed in the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments." (Ps. 112:1).

Article submitted Thursday, July 23, 2009 & read 30 times.

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