Anyone familiar with the Bible knows about the Fall of man in Adam as seen in Genesis 3. Also therein is the institution of the infamous curse upon creation. Verses 16-19 relate the matter to us:

“[16] Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. [17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

It often seems “unfair” that God, because of Adam and Eve’s sin, has punished creation.

• Why did He alter plants’ genetic makeup so they produce thorns and thistles?
• Why should wholly-herbivorous animals be forced to become carnivores, no longer having exclusive plant-based diets?
• Why must work be strenuous and exhausting?
• Why should women have conception/pregnancy pains and birth pangs?
• Why do we have to physically die?

Pay close attention dear friends. It is quite easy to explain and not impossible to understand. There is something terribly wrong with creation in the spirit world. Consequently, it is only appropriate that something be extremely wrong with the natural world to reflect it. In other words, we can see the physical effects of the invisible spiritual conflict of the ages.

God placed a curse on creation in order to indicate to us something is amiss in a realm that we cannot see with physical eyes.

Adam was created to be God’s king or representative on the Earth. Notice Genesis 1:

“[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

When Eve made a conscious choice and sinned, and then Adam followed making the same conscious choice and sinned, they deliberately sided with the words of the Serpent (Satan) in the Garden of Eden (cf. Genesis 3). Adam as Earth’s God-given leader handed over that government to Satan. Adam relinquished his position of governing in the Earth. Thus, since then and today Satan gladly occupies that office instead. Hence, Satan is called “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Notice the following exchanges with Satan and Jesus Christ; particularly observe how Satan boasted that he had usurped Earth’s governments, and then he used that as leverage to challenge Christ! Matthew 4:8-10:

“[8] Again, the devil taketh him [the Lord Jesus Christ] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him [to Jesus], All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Here in Luke 4:5-8 we have the parallel passage:

“[5] And the devil, taking him [the Lord Jesus Christ] up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. [7] If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. [8] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

In addition to reflecting that spiritual war, there is a second reason why God put a curse upon creation. We find it in Romans 8:

“[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body [“body of sin” Rom. 6:6, 8:3).

[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

God in His wisdom—not of recklessness or indifference—temporarily granted Satan the ability to exercise dominion over the Earth and all of creation, but Satan today cannot use creation to its full potential. While a crude illustration, here is something that may help. Renters may vandalize or destroy real estate before they permanently move out, taking vengeance on the property’s owner. Similarly, before God momentarily gave creation over to Satan, He put limitations on it. Satan receives less worship in a fallen world than he would have in an un-fallen one. Additionally, a world that is dying is not perpetually trapped under Satan’s control anyway.

What is most important for us to remember here is the temporary nature of the fallen creation. Creation has not always been fallen, and it will not always be fallen.

The God of the Bible who cursed creation because of sin has left us with the promise—the hope—that God will one-day remove that curse. Such a wonderful hope saves us from despair, hopelessness, doom and gloom.

Romans chapter 8 again:

“[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Just think, we are moving closer and closer to this day of redemption. Time is indeed running out on Satan’s reign and the bondage of corruption. Deliverance for creation is coming, and in God’s own time (!) we will see it with physical eyes.

"He who subjected the creation to a cursed condition will one day subject that same creation to a glorious restoration! “Then do we with patience wait [!] for it.” (Romans 8:25)

We look to that "belssed hope," the redemption of our bodies being exchanged for immortal and incorruptible bodies to dwell "eternal in the heaven." (2Cor 5:1b)

“For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹  Who shall change our vile [physical] body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrected] body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)