WHY DO WE GROW OLD AND DIE?

A SINISTER PLOT

A criminal tries to cover his tracks. This has also been true of the one responsible for a crime that has resulted in the death of billions. He has maneuvered things to shroud human death in mystery. Jesus Christ identified this criminal when He told those seeking to kill Him: "Your are your father, the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him." -John 40:44. 

Yes, the Devil is a malicious  "manslayer."  The Bible reveals that he is a real person/spirit, not just the evil in someone's heart.  (Matthew 4:1-11) Although created as a righteous angel,  "he did not stand fast in the truth." How fitting it is that he is named Satan the Devil!  (Revelation 12:9) He is called "Satan," or  "resister," because he has opposed and resisted Jehovah. This criminal is also called "Devil,' meaning "slanderer," for he has blasphemously misrepresented God.

What motivated Satan to rebel against God?  Greed.  He greedily coveted the worship Jehovah received from humans.  The Devil did not reject the desire to receive such worship which belonged only to the Creator.  (Compare Ezekiel 28:12, 19.)   Instead, the angel who  became Satan nurtured this greedy desire until it became fertile and gave birth to sin. - James 1:14, 15.

We have identified the culprit whose criminal act has led to the death of humans. But what is the specific cause of human death?  The Bible says:   "The sting producing death is sin."  (1 Corinthians 15:56) And what is sin?  To understand this word, let us consider the meaning it carried in the original languages of the Bible.  The Hebrew and Greek verbs commonly translated "to sin" mean "to miss" in the sense of missing  a mark  or not reaching a goal.  What mark do all of us miss?  The mark of perfect obedience to God.  How, though, was sin introduced into the world?  

Next time: WHY DO WE GROW OLD AND DIE?/HOW THE PLOT WAS CARRIED OUT

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life