Gains and Losses

Every decision leads to unmistakable repercussions that can be measured in gains and losses. When a baby is born, he or she gains access to a world of possibilities but loses the warmth and protection found in the womb. When a child goes to school for the first time, they gain exposure to many friends they might never otherwise have met, but lose the security that came with being comfortable in known surroundings. When a person gets married, they gain the support and unity from another that was absent in solitude but lose the ability to live without burden.

But counting our gains against our losses does not always tell the whole story. This is especially true when ignoring God.  Adam in Eve found this truth no later than a blink in the timeline of creation. Their first major decision, absent from the direction and blessing of God, provided them with a myriad of gains and losses. We can see that decision in Genesis 3:6-7.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Adam and Eve chose to ignore God’s command and subsequently sin entered the world. What they discovered was that their eyes were opened and they understood perfectly what they were losing and what they would gain.

Adam and Eve lost much when they ate the fruit. They lost peace with each other and peace with God. They lost harmony, agreement, accord, order, unanimity, and tranquility. They lost joy in their untroubled lives. No longer were there jubilance, mirth, revelry, delight and cheer aplenty when walking in the garden.  They knew that they were naked and were not content. They were not happy, blissful, merry, cheerful or thrilled in their current state. The lost their carefree nature. They lost themselves.

But there can be no disagreement that they acquired much as well! When Adam and Eve followed their own path there was heaped upon them a multitude of gains. They were the recipients of shame in their nakedness. The proceeds of Adam and Eve’s decision were contempt, degradation, derision, dishonor, guilt, humiliation, infamy, irritation and remorse. Adam and Eve for the first time found sadness in waves unimaginable. They were bereaved, bitter, dejected, despairing, despondent, distressed, forlorn, grieved, heartbroken, languishing, pensive, troubled, and sorrowful. They would later hide from God because they had discovered fear. They were filled with anxiety, agitation, consternation, despair, dismay, distress, doubt, dread, panic, revulsion, terror, trembling trepidation and worry. To their already full bag they also had swirling confusion. Like most of us they for the first time felt bewilderment, chagrin, demoralization, distraction, embarrassment, fluster, tumult, turbulence and turmoil. Adam and Eve gained more than they ever imagined.

Gains and losses. It may seem like a simple case of addition and subtraction. But be careful, because as Adam and Eve found out, not every choice has an upside.