Man Kind's Marching Orders Summary

Many things have changed since sin has entered the world. Death has appeared. Animals eat other animals and man hunts for animals as food as well. Man not only uses natural resources, but abuses them. Animals are also used for doing work. Plants are used for food and building. Man changes the habitats to his liking at the expense of others. It has become difficult to fulfill the responsibility to both serve and master the Earth. Man is neither righteous nor loving. Instead he has become selfish and pursues things that are destructive to life. This list includes idolatry, pride, envy, the lusts of the flesh, and acts of violence.

It is startling how little man makes sin out to be. Although Scripture clearly states the dire consequences of sinful action, both man, in general, and Believers live and act with little regard to the consequences of their actions or their thoughts either physically or spiritually. Many disregard sin as just being a weakness of the flesh, as being indiscreet, the absence of goodness, as selfishness, ignorance, or as a sickness that is to be treated by science.

Sin is far more than any of these things speak. And of course man would want it to be only such as these because then one could explain it away, treat it with something, or not be concerned with it any further. Man must recognize the fact that sin carries a heavy price and affects both our physical and spiritual lives here in the present and also for eternity. To deny this, is to risk everything.

It is equally startling to see how much the Creator makes of sin. Sinfulness and unrighteousness is an abomination. To Him it is enough to separate us from Him temporarily, long term, and even for eternity. The fact that the One Most High has created a means by which a sinful person can transfer their sin onto another (through substitution and sacrifice) and then live in righteousness is an incredible act of Mercy. It shows His desire for life, and especially His relationship with man, to continue.