The Consequences of Sin

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen. 6:5)

Question 16: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery. (Romans 5:18)[i]
  
Adam and Eve lived in a pristine environment.  However, immediately after the fall we see the horrible effects of sin.  Adam and Eve’s firstborn son kills their second born son because of jealousy.  Cain kills Abel.  Parents who have suffered the loss of a child know the incredible pain and suffering that causes.  Now imagine suffering the death of a child at the hands of their sibling who intentionally murdered him.  Adam and Eve learned in a painful way the kind of suffering and misery their actions had brought into the world.  And then it’s not long after this that we read that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Gen. 6:5-6).  Sin, suffering, misery, and wickedness had become so great on the earth that God decides to wipe out all of humanity and start over with one family—Noah and his family.  We look around at the world today and we are reminded everywhere of the consequences of sin and disobedience to God, not only on a global scale but on a very interpersonal level as well.  The Bible tells us “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).  We are living in the last days.  But thanks be to God I have read the end of the Bible—and God wins in the end!  For those who have faith in Christ there will come a day when he “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Rev. 21:4).  What a glorious day that will be!

[i] “A Catechism with Proofs” by Charles Haddon Spurgeon