Mysterious Ingratitude

Read Ezekiel 28:12–19. What can we learn from this passage about the

mysterious origin of sin?

Much of the book of Ezekiel was written in end-time, symbolic lan-

guage. In many instances, specific entities (such as persons, animals,

and objects) and local events are used to represent and describe broader

cosmic and/or historical realities. In Ezekiel 28:1–10, the Lord spoke of

the king of Tyre (Tyre itself was a prosperous ancient Phoenician port

city) as a rich and proud ruler who was only a “man” but who claimed

to be a god and who even sat (he claimed) in the throne of the gods.

Then, in Ezekiel 28:12–19, this historical reality becomes an analogy to

describe the original fall of Lucifer in the heavenly courts. So, the king of

Tyre, who was a human being living “ ‘ “in the midst of the seas” ’ ” (Ezek.

28:2, 8, NKJV), now represents “ ‘ “the anointed cherub who covers,” ’ ”

(Ezek. 28:14, NKJV) living “ ‘ “in Eden, the garden of God,” ’ ” (Ezek.

28:13, NKJV) and “ ‘ “upon the holy mountain of God” ’ ” (Ezek. 28:14).

A crucial statement in the whole account is found in Ezekiel 28:15,

which says, “ ‘ “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were

created, till iniquity was found in you” ’ ” (NKJV). Hence, Lucifer’s

perfection included the potential for evil, the potential to do wrong, and

that was because, as a moral being, Lucifer possessed free will, part of

what it means to be a perfect being.

In reality, Lucifer was created perfect—which included his ability to

choose freely. However, abusing that perfection by the misuse of his

free will, he became corrupted by considering himself more important

than he actually was.

No longer satisfied with how God had created and honored him,

Lucifer lost his thankfulness to God and wished to receive more recog-

nition than he actually deserved. How this could happen with a perfect

angelic being living in a perfect universe is, as already mentioned, a

mystery.

“Sin is a mysterious, unexplainable thing. There was no reason for

its existence; to seek to explain it is to seek to give a reason for it,

and that would be to justify it. Sin appeared in a perfect universe, a

thing that was shown to be inexcusable.”—Ellen G. White, The Truth

About Angels, p. 30.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul says that “in everything” (NKJV) we

should give thanks. How can these words help us to overcome any

feelings of ingratitude and self-pity, especially in trying times?