Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus? Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other. Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator–all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation. . . . He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater love for him than before. No sign of death appeared in her, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate. Conflicts and Courage, p 16.
Add a soundtrack and special effects to this account, and you’ve got yourself a Hollywoodized tear-jerking romantic drama. Here is an account of the most tragic event in the history of the universe, the event that would lead to the death of the Son of God, yet do we not see the acclaim and appraisal of modern society to this act: Adam was a desperate romantic. His ‘heroic’ act in dying with Eve stirs in us a response that is hard to resist: After all, he just wanted to be with her. He loved her so much, and oh how he showed love and loyalty to his beautiful companion. One problem though, his ‘heroic’ act was a sinful act.
Seriously, if this scene was put into a movie with a gorgeous actor and an enchanting actress, I’d put money that we’d find ourselves siding with Adam instead of with God, Christians and non-Christians alike. This spell of romance makes it so easy to justify sin, to justify giving up a greater love and hurting the heart of God deeply. Imagine what God was thinking, feeling, and experiencing at that moment when Adam decided that he would sin. I read this passage this morning and boy it made me angry. I left devotion time angry, how ‘bout that. It is now late afternoon and I’m trying to unpack what exactly that upsets me.
1. I was angry at Adam
Arghh it even upsets me now as I’m rehearsing the thought. The man knew what he was doing. “Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God…” “He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God.” He. Knew. And that just makes me want to scream at him. How could he have done it?
It’s not that his position was without reason (and it’s not that I’m not angry at Eve’s decision – I’ll reserve that for another post). Is it possible that I myself would go through the same line of thought and make the same mistake? Sure. But that is beside the point. I could not sympathize with Adam’s decision, despite the fact that it may be hypocritical for me to say it. There is no sympathy in me for Adam’s decision. And I actually think this is a proper response. There is no excuse for sin, no matter how beautiful and romantic the justification may be.
The passage says that Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and the angels. He had beheld the glory of God and basked in His presence. Moreover, the path of infinite growth was widely open to him, within his grasp – to be with God and to be like God. He weighed all of these in the balance and alas, they were not valuable enough to outweigh separation with Eve. It’s heartbreaking to understand the import of this moment. One decision and he let it all go, all of the things that we long so dear now – perfect communion with God.
2. I was mad at our generation
Along with Adam, I was mad at a generation of Adams who would stay silent when their wives are dying, those who understood the situation fully, chose to let their wives have their ways and followed them, those who wouldn’t risk being unromantic for the sake of their God and perhaps the salvation of their wives. What is this “you die, I die” mentality that puts romance above God. That’s Hollywood, not the Bible. Is not God worth more than romance?
The second thing that upsets me is our own, my own mindset. It’s this atrocious way of thinking that would buy into Adam’s excuses. I was mad at this female mindset that esteem desperate romantic-ness more than uprightness and unwavering commitment to God. How many times have we heard the story of people, young and old, who could not follow through with conviction because of a romantic relationship and the pressure that comes from the other person? How many times have we done it ourselves? This feel-good lovesickness is like a disease.
Lord help us, that in an age where being romantic is held in high esteem, and when it even appeals to our nature, that we would not crucify the Son of God for the sake of romance. Have mercy.
Painfully true.
Kayla, you’re so accurate in saying that the intolerance to Adam’s decision is also “rebuking the inclination within all of us (who know better) to justify a sinful decision should we ever find ourselves in a similar situation.” Couldn’t say it better!
I recently read the same passage in Patriarchs and Prophets, and I remember thinking, “This is so movie-like. But it actually happened.” I appreciate your writing about not sympathizing with Adam. When I read the passage, I asked myself the same question as you: “Is it possible that I myself would go through the same line of thought and make the same mistake?” And my answer was, Probably. But I stopped there. What I appreciate is that you pushed through that identification with the situation that might have led you to say, “I might have done the same thing. Who am I to judge?” You’re right: “There is no excuse for sin, no matter how beautiful and romantic the justification may be.” I think your response is a proper response. With that response, you’re not only rebuking what Adam did; to me, you’re also rebuking the inclination within all of us (who know better) to justify a sinful decision should we ever find ourselves in a similar situation. You’re calling sin by its right name. May God have mercy on us indeed, and give us courage to deny our emotions when His word is at stake.