Insight for Today
A Daily Devotional by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

The original story of innocence and beauty becomes a study in selfishness and tragedy beyond the warning. Genesis 3 is familiar to all Bible students—especially as it relates to the temptation in the Garden.

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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6 NASB)

Notice the words, “she took from its fruit and ate” and “her husband with her” ate. That’s where all our troubles began. And the root word for all our troubles? Depravity.

Up until then nothing but innocence was flowing through the bloodstream of mankind. There was an enviable, uninterrupted communion with the living God, humankind’s Creator. There was the blessing and delight of walks with God, the joy of His presence, the unguarded relationship, the familiar friendship. There was an absence of rebellion, selfishness, defensiveness, and embarrassment. There was . . . but no longer!

At that awful moment when the original couple yielded to temptation, depravity entered and contaminated the human bloodstream. Depravity intercepted innocence and ruined it, leaving humankind alienated from God. Instead of the mind being clear and full of the knowledge of God, it became clouded. And instead of possessing that once-strong love for God, man became resentful of God, an emotional wreck . . . fragile and weak. And the will, once obedient, became rebellious.

The disease continues! Instead of adoring God, we fight with Him. Instead of believing what He says, we reject His truth. Instead of wanting to do what He would have us do, we delight in doing what we want to do. And to make matters even worse, instead of facing it, we cover it up. It all goes back to the original scene.

We’ll do anything to keep from saying, “I have sinned.” We’ll cover up. We’ll hide. We’ll rationalize. We’ll point to somebody else. We’ll find a scapegoat and blame him or her. We’ll do anything but say, “I have sinned.”