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The FallComing to a fresh understanding of the Fall and its consequences has been an important ingredient in rebuilding my life after a period of clinical depression. The Fall is usually referred to in connection with man in a state of sin prior to conversion, and is dealt with in the context of gospel preaching. Similarly my study of Christian doctrine at Bible college dealt with the Fall in the context of our state before salvation. I firmly believe in original sin and the need for personal salvation, and rejoice that I was saved as an 11-year-old back in 1964. But the doctrine of the Fall has a wider application too. Five lessonsI have been learning a number of lessons, which are related to a broader, fuller understanding of the Fall. I am fallen, but I also live in a fallen world, which contains many consequences of sin. Unless I recognise the fallenness of the world I live in then I am in danger of acting wrongly in many situations. 1 I must not judge God - as I am faced with pain, illness, disease, death and many other sorrows of life. These things are not of his doing - but due to the Fall. It is so easy to judge God based on the evidence of our eyes - on what we see, and feel and hear. This sort of judgement is a common cause for people rejecting the gospel. But, as a Christian, faith demands that I accept that God is good at all times, in all situations - despite the evidence to the contrary. Even when my mum dies of cancer, my Christian friend takes his own life, and I slide down into the blackness of depression. I must see these as the consequences of sin, not God's failure or weakness. 2 I must be patient - one day all the wrong things in this world will be set right; that is part of the wonder of heaven. Until then I must learn to be patient, not wanting everything to be changed and made right now. Heaven will be in heaven, not here on earth. Sadly, life down here has improved so much in the 50 years, that many Christians do not speak of heaven very much; it is not something we earnestly wait for. But a hope of heaven is one thing which will help me through when life here is caving in around me. I will see Jesus face to face, he will come back to fetch me home, life will be perfect one day! Till then I must learn patience. 3 I must accept less than perfection - I will never be able to do things perfectly down here on earth. I will not be a perfect husband, father, brother, friend. My work will contain mistakes - in the office, at home, in the church. I am flawed by sin, so what I do will also be flawed. I need to accept this for my own mental welfare, as well as to learn acceptance of others. Only in heaven will there be perfection. 4 We were not meant to be like this - God did not design life to include sickness and sorrow. It is Adam's sin and the Fall which brought these into the world. So I can accept old age, disease, death and a whole lot else as part of the fallen human condition - and not blame God for the pain that these cause. This is not God's doing - it is ours. So I am better able to live with seeing my dear father grow weaker and frailer, losing his dignity, knowing this is not what God designed for him - and assured that one day he will be taken home! 5 There is not a solution to every problem - down here on earth. One glorious day in the future, Jesus will return in glory, and as judge and king he will set everything straight, all problems will be solved. But for now many things will remain broken, not fixed, unresolved. There will be wars and rumours of wars, famine, earthquakes, etc. - until that great and final day when heaven will be ushered in. Roll on heaven!Marcus Watkins,
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