Evil’s effect in our lives A perfect Creation corrupted – Gen. 1 (“good” is used six times to describe God’s Creation in progress) Gen 1:31 – And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Evil introduced into God’s Creation – Gen. 3 Satan – Gen. 3:1-5 Man’s reaction – Gen. 3:6 Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" (2) And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, (3) but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (4) But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. (5) For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5-6 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Evil’s effect in our lives A perfect Creation corrupted – Gen. 1 (“good” is used six times to describe God’s Creation in progress) Gen 1:31 – And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Evil introduced into God’s Creation – Gen. 3 Satan – Gen. 3:1-5 Man’s reaction – Gen. 3:6 God’s response – Gen. 3:16-19 Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." (17) And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; (18) thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. (19) By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Introduction of pain, hardship, suffering, and death

Evil’s effect in our lives Corrupted relationships Between husband and wife – 1 Tim. 2:13-14 Between siblings – Gen. 4:8 Between neighbors – Gen. 4:23 Effects and evil continue – Matt. 10:21-23 1 Timothy 2:13-14 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; (14) and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Genesis 4:8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:23 Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. Matthew 10:21-22 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, (22) and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Evil’s effect in our lives Corrupted natural order Introduction of natural hardships – Gen. 3:17-19 Genesis 3:17-19 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; (18) thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. (19) By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Evil’s effect in our lives Corrupted natural order Introduction of natural hardships – Gen. 3:17-19 Changes in nature – Gen. 7:11 Alfred R. Wallace, who actually “scooped” Charles Darwin in advancing the modern theory of evolution, wrote the following: “There was but one climate known to the ancient fossil world as revealed by the plants and animals entombed in the rocks, and the climate was a mantle of spring-like loveliness which seems to have prevailed continuously over the whole globe. Just how the world could have been warmed all over may be a matter of conjecture; that it was warmed effectively and continuously is a matter of fact” (The Geographical Distribution of Animals, New York: Harper Bros., 1876, Vol. I, p. 277). Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.

Evil’s effect in our lives Corrupted natural order Introduction of natural hardships – Gen. 3:17-19 Changes in nature – Gen. 7:11 Changes in relationship between God and man Gen. 3:22-24 Isaiah 59:1-2 Heb. 3:12 Genesis 3:22-24 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever--" (23) therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. (24) He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; (2) but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Overcoming evil Cannot completely avoid the effects of evil in this life. The best possible life here and now – 1 Peter 3:8-12 Deliver us from the present evil age – Gal. 1:3-5 1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (9) Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (10) For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; (11) let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.“ Galatians 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, (4) who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (5) to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Overcoming evil Cannot completely avoid the effects of evil in this life. The best possible life here and now – 1 Peter 3:8-12 Deliver us from the present evil age – Gal. 1:3-5 Put on the whole armor of God – Eph. 6:11-13 Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.