For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NIV

We are all in this mess together. None of us can use the excuse that we are “trying hard” or that we are “just as good as others.” We are all lost, separated from God.

God is holy. He has no sin. He created a perfect world to match His Holiness. The trees didn’t rot. The flowers always bloomed. Man was in perfect union with all creation. God gave one law. Adam and Eve were not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Pretty simple request, wouldn’t you say? There were plenty of other foods from which they could choose. God, in an effort to allow us to love Him freely, gave man the ability to choose or reject His plan.

You know the story. Satan tempted Eve, she gave in to temptation, and Adam, standing right there with her, did nothing about it. Both sinned. Both fell short of God’s glory. God judged their sin, and because they were the parents of all mankind, all who would follow were born into sin.

I have met many good people in my life. There are people I can certainly say I trust, but, when we examine the heart of any man, we will find a heart that is rooted in sin. There is no one truly good, the Bible says, no not one.

You and I were born separated from God, because you and I were born in sin.