03. The Wrath of the Dragon | Chapter 03: The Anomaly

 


What is an anomaly? Google Dictionary defines it as, “...something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.” Sin was the anomaly that caused discord in the perfect universe of the Creator. It cannot be created on its own. It has to be conceived from the heart of a living creature that has an intelligent knowledge of the justice and mercy of God and has the power to choose between good and evil.

The Bible defines sin as “…the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Google dictionary says, “Laws are system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.”

When God created the universe, he made laws to govern his creatures and keep perfect order. For example, on the third day of creation, God said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.” Genesis 1:9. God placed a law separating the land from the sea and it has remained so until today (except during the time of Noah when God Himself withdrew that law and flooded the earth). Laws are basically instructions or commands given by God as guidelines to how creation should behave. 

Adam and Eve were created to be king and queen of planet Earth (Genesis 1:26). They were given the freedom to govern and manage the Earth on God's behalf. There was one specific command (law) that God gave them. God simply said, “You can eat of all the fruits of the garden EXCEPT the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, don’t eat of it or you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17. Adam and Eve listened to the lies of the Devil and chose to disobey God’s command. In doing so, they sinned against God and must now pay the penalty of their disobedience: death. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…”

God is the creator of everything in existence, making Him the rightful monarch of this kingdom we call: The Universe. “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things…” Acts 17:24-25.

The energy current that powers the whole universe is this thing we call Life. Paul said that God “…giveth to all life…” because of the simple fact that “…in him (The Word – Jesus Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. In fact, the very name of God: Jehovah (Exodus 6:3) means the existing one or self-existent or life in himself. This energy flows from God through every atom in the universe. The Bible says, “All things were made by him; and without was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3. This is what makes Him God – because He is the creator of all things. No one else can take His place because they do not have Life in them. All created beings draw their life from the source of all life – God; without Him, existence will cease to exist. This is how God designed His work of creation.

Before the entrance of sin, there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will. Does this mean that created beings are robots controlled by God? Certainly not! Lucifer’s disobedience is proof that some created beings were given the freedom of choice. The law of love is the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love, — homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of his character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all, He grants freedom of will that they may render Him voluntary service. This is what it means to be in a relationship or covenant with God, both parties fulfil their end of the agreement by virtue of free will.

Here stands a created being - the angel Lucifer - who wanted the position of God. He disrupted the perfect harmony of God’s design by breaking God’s Law - he wanted to be God! God said, “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me…” Isaiah 45:5. He also said, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else, I am God and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9. Lucifer was attempting an impossiblity.

God’s kingdom has one fundamental Law, upon which all other laws are built – it is the law of Love. Once, a lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40

Love must be the driving force of our allegiance to God. Love must be the principle for choosing Him. Love is the chord that connects all created beings to the Source of Life. When your love is directed at something else other than God, you automatically disconnect yourself from the Source of Life and you die.

Looking at his own beauty, wisdom and brightness, Lucifer’s heart began to breed the spirit of pride which eventually led him to attempt to overthrow the supremacy of God (Isaiah 14:12-14). His love was directed to himself rather than to the Creator. Thus, he disconnected himself from God and from His life force. “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14. If Lucifer really loved God, he would’ve given up his pride and rendered supreme love to his King.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. “He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” John 3:16. God is the most unselfish being in the universe and this was shown by the great sacrifice made in giving up God’s only Son to redeem the fallen human race. His purpose was to revive the spirit of love that the human race has lost which will then reconnect him to the Source of Life.

The big question is: How do we love God and our neighbours like Jesus said? The Bible is not silent concerning this question. All we have to do is to turn the pages of the Word of God to show us the answers.

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Love thy God

“…I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:5-6. We can extract a few points from these verses:
  • You have to do both: love God AND keep His commandments.
  • You cannot do one and leave out the other. You cannot say you love God and not keep His commandments. They should go together. Love is the profession. Keeping the commandment is the fruit and evidence of that profession.
What commandments is the Bible talking about here? Exodus 20:5-6 is part of the 2nd Commandment of God’s 10 Commandments, which He gave the Israelites upon Mount Sinai. Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, keep my commandments…He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:15,21,23.

Love thy Neighbor

The Bible says, “…love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8-10. Paul is referring to the 10 Commandments here. The last six commandments of the Law is a breakdown of the phrase, “Love thy neighbour as thyself”.

“Whosover sins transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Lucifer broke the first commandment by exalting his heart as the heart of God (Ezekiel 28:2). He broke the second commandment by exalting his beauty and wisdom (Ezekiel 28:17). He broke the fifth commandment by dishonouring God, his Father. He broke the sixth commandment by waging war against God (Revelation 12:7). He broke the ninth commandment by spreading lies about God, deceiving his followers. He broke the tenth commandment by coveting the glory and honour and position that should be God’s. He has no love for his neighbours and he has no love for God. The bottom line is: he has no love. 

The absence of love in the heart is sin.

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God has a character of longsuffering towards disobedience. He pleaded with Lucifer but pride forbade him to humble himself before his Maker. In doing so, he had eternally cut himself off the Source of life and is bound for death (Ezekiel 28:18). Seeing that his cause was to no avail, he now plans to take down as many people as he can with him. That is why he tempted mankind into sin: so that they can join him in rebellion against God and eventually end up in the fires of death “…for the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23.

Sin is the anomaly in God’s creation, but God was not the cause of it. He gives to every one of His creatures the freedom and intelligence to choose for themselves. This design carries with it a risk – a risk that God’s creatures might deviate from their intended purpose thus causing an anomaly. Adam and Eve chose to listen to the suggestions of the Devil and disobeyed God’s direct command. We now know that human beings sin because they listen to their own desires and the suggestions of the Devil.

To solve this anomaly, God implemented a plan called the Plan of Salvation. The Bible says that before the creation of the world, Jesus Christ was called, “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8. God said, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7

From this, we know that the creation was by design and planning, and this plan included an emergency plan, should man choose to sin. God’s Plan of Salvation was designed to solve the sin anomaly forever. By sacrificing Himself on the cross Christ secured the salvation of all those who would choose to believe and obey Him.

God desires that the service rendered to Him by His creatures spring forth from an intelligent appreciation of His love for them. That is why God sent His Son to die for us – to reignite the fire of love for Him so that men might be restored in God’s wonderful design of Creation.

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