Genesis 3:14-19 “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 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.”
The above verses reveal the sad result of sin entering into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Because of their sin, God decreed the curse. The serpent was cursed. The ground was cursed, and, of course, humanity was cursed. Adam and Eve would hand down their sin to all of their progeny, thus handing down sin and all of its horrible consequences to all. The curse handed down to all mankind included physical death, sorrow, suffering and, worst of all, separation from God. That separation from God is eternal, and can only be resolved through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree....”
Beloved, understand this, everything bad that mankind endures, every suffering, every sorrow and every hurtful thing comes directly or indirectly as a result of sin and its consequences. We are a cursed people living in a cursed world, a world that is reeling beneath the terrible results of sin. As I am writing these words, the world is crippled with fear from the Coronavirus. Many thousands are infected and many have died. We are being told that it may be several months before this scare is over. Please do not misunderstand what I am about to say. This virus, like all others diseases that plague the human family, comes as a result of sin. God never intended for mankind to have to endure such difficulties. Such sicknesses are just part of the curse that has been passed down upon all. This virus does not only infect the sinful, but all. Of course, Scripture is clear in declaring us all sinners. (Romans 3:23) Because sin has infected all, all suffer from its consequences. All find themselves “cursed” because of sin.
There is hope! I certainly pray that there is “hope” concerning this horrible virus, but I can say with certainty that there is hope concerning sin and the curse. That hope is in Christ. As we quoted Paul’s words earlier, Christ became a “curse” for us, dying on Calvary’s Cross for our sins. He was “made...to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) The call goes out to all today to find that hope and peace through our Savior. Jesus calls, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) The great prophet Isaiah wrote, “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) The promise in God’s Word is clear, and it is for all; “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Those who call “shall be saved” from sin and the horrible curse that has been handed down to all. All are sinners! All are lost in sin! All find themselves beneath the curse! But, beloved, all can be saved who will place faith and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Steve Smith
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