Paradise Lost
Scripture Reading — Genesis 3:1-7
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good … she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
—Genesis 3:6
Several years ago Time magazine featured a cover story about the book of Genesis. The writer commented that the book of Genesis is far more than a controversial document about creation v. evolution. The book of Genesis, he said, “is about us and our origins.”
The author had it right. The book of Genesis is all about us and our origins. It tells us who we are and what God intended us to be. It is about God, who created a perfect universe, only to see it plunged into ruin by the disobedience of our first parents. Genesis 3 gives the answer to the question “What happened to God’s beautiful creation? What happened to us who were made in God’s image?”
The chapter explains why bad things happen to good people. It explains tragedies, natural disasters, disease, depravity, and death. It explains abuse and addictions. It tells us that sin and disobedience caused all that is wrong with this world.
Sin brought shame and fear and selfishness. Sin brought about death. And only God can pick up the pieces of his ruined creation and make things new through the death and resurrection of his Son, the Lord Jesus. Read through Genesis 3, and then turn to John 3:16 to see how God goes about restoring his creation: “God so loved the world that he gave …”
Lord, our God, thank you for refusing to let us go and for sending your Son to restore all things. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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