Sin: Its Origin
Read Ezekiel 28:14-17. What does this tell us about the origin of sin? What was Lucifer like before he fell?
Unlike God, who is eternal, evil and sin had a beginning; that is, there was a time they didn’t exist. Because God is love and holy, and everything He created was good, sin did not originate in Him. Ezekiel makes it clear that sin mysteriously started in a creature that was created good: “ ‘ “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you” ’ ” (Ezek. 28:15, NIV). “Blameless” (Heb. tamim, “complete”) designates the wholeness of this creature as he came from the hands of the Creator.
Notice, too, that sin began in a cherub, an exalted being. The cherubim were closer to God than any other angelic beings. Two were placed as guardians by the entrance of Eden (Gen. 3:24). A pair, made of gold, was placed on the ark of the covenant (Exod. 25:18–20). The position of the cherubim on the ark illustrates the high position of this cherub, who stood in the light of God's presence in God's dwelling (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 758). Sin originated, then, in a celestial being who was very close to the throne of God. The phrase “holy mountain of God” designates the heavenly temple, where God dwells among His creatures, the celestial center of government.
The self-corruption of this cherub, Lucifer, was rooted in a selfishness that misused the gifts of beauty and wisdom that God gave him. He mysteriously allowed his emotions and feelings to prevail over his reason, and consequently his wholeness was corrupted. “ ‘ “You corrupted your wisdom” ’ ” (Ezek. 28:17, NIV); God placed the blame squarely on Lucifer himself. Instead of holding to the divine order, according to which his gifts were to be used to enrich others, Lucifer perceived himself as superior to everyone else in beauty, splendor, and wisdom. “Little by little Satan came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation” and God's established order was disrupted.—Ellen G. White, The Faith I Live By, p. 66.
| How often has it been that no matter what you had, you still wanted more? Whose character are you manifesting? Why is that so opposite to the character of Christ? |
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