There is nothing new under the sun --- said Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes, had studied history, and seen his own life through different stages, realising something that has become a cliché in our time – What goes around, comes around.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

If we go back to creation, and read Genesis we can see where it all began. There was no death in the Garden of Eden. Adam, Eve and the animals lived together in perfect harmony as vegetarians. As we read in Isaiah 40:8 the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever. (Note, the vegetation withers and falls, as against human death.)

Man’s fall began in the Garden of Eden, and it continues into the Garden of Remembrance, as we remember the times we have failed to honour God. When conscience pricks, we have the choice – go with the world, or go with God. Who is the influence in the world in our present time? Satan, the evil one, is who, in Job 1:7 answered God when He asked where he had come from, by saying, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”  

He still roams, and he still does damage!

Genesis 2:17 reports that while God’s instruction to Adam was obeyed, all went well. Adam had the responsibility to maintain obedience, but in Genesis 3:6 we see that Eve was tempted, and gave in to curiosity. Don’t we, too, find curiosity is an almost irresistible force? We want to know, “What if --?” and wonder “would it really hurt?”

The youngsters of today are taught evolution in the schools, an idea passed off as scientific. Far from science, it leads to the idea that if we “just happened,” by a long stream of events, then there is no need for ethics, and morality, and integrity. Why bother with the Ten Commandments if there is no Creator God and Judgment to follow our evil lives? Why not give in to curiosity and experiment with any forbidden fruit that looks attractive? Why bother with “God rules” if there is no solid base of righteousness?

The older or middle generation – might I even call it the lost generation? – grew up largely in rebellion against the rigid rules and guide lines of the earlier age group. Without church commitment, children were given more leeway, and a more permissive style of parenting led to the idea that if you don’t have your own way, you won’t have the happiness you deserve. Forbidden fruit was no longer strongly forbidden, but offered generously and freely.

The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

But what is sin? Anything that does not honour the Creator God, who set out the way He wants us to live and acknowledge His provision for us!

Way back in the days of Noah, when men began to increase on the earth --- the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of his heart was only evil all the time --- (Genesis 6:1-8) God’s anger resulted in the Flood.

Back when the judges ruled, roughly 1000 years before Christ, --- everyone did as he saw fit. (Judges 21:25)

Read Romans 1:18-32 and see the similarities to our day and age.

Since [People] did not think it worthwhile to retain to the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such thing deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (v 28-32)

No, we are not all that bad! Why, some of us do our best to do well, and help others!

There is a way out!

The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23b)

Accept Him, and live!

All Bible verses are from the NIV.

(I started this piece yesterday, and then asked God if this was from Him, or was I just trying to be clever? Then our Pastor preached on the very verses that had challenged me to write, although from a different angle, But, confirmation enough! Those who know God, know Peace. No God, No peace!)