God In Nature
Before the entrance of sin not a cloud rested upon the minds of
our first parents to obscure their perception of the character of God.
They were perfectly conformed to the will of God. For a covering
a beautiful light, the light of God, surrounded them. This clear and
perfect light illuminated everything which they approached.
Nature was their lessonbook. In the Garden of Eden the existence
of God was demonstrated, His attributes were revealed, in the objects
of nature that surrounded them. Everything upon which their eyes
rested spoke to them. The invisible things of God, “even His everlast-
ing power and divinity,” were clearly seen, being understood by the
things that were made.
Results of Sin
But while it is true that in the beginning God could be discerned in
nature, it does not follow that after the Fall a perfect knowledge of God
was revealed in the natural world to Adam and his posterity. Nature
could convey her lessons to man in his innocence. But transgression
brought a blight upon the earth and intervened between nature and
nature’s God. Had Adam and Eve never disobeyed their Creator,
had they remained in the path of perfect rectitude, they would have
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continued to learn of God through His works. But when they listened
to the tempter and sinned against God, the light of the garments of
heavenly innocence departed from them. Deprived of the heavenly
light, they could no longer discern the character of God in the works
of His hand.
And through man’s disobedience a change was wrought in nature
itself. Marred by the curse of sin, nature can bear but an imperfect
testimony regarding the Creator. It cannot reveal His character in its
perfection.
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