Adam and Eve suffered the terrible consequences of disobeying the express command of God. They might have reasoned: This is a very small sin, and will never be taken into account. But God treated the matter as a fearful evil, and the woe of their transgression will be felt through all time. In the times in which we live, sins of far greater magnitude are often committed by those who profess to be God’s children. In the transaction of business, falsehoods are uttered and acted by God’s professed people that bring His frown upon them and a reproach upon His cause. The least departure from truthfulness and rectitude is a transgression of the law of God. Continual indulgence in sin accustoms the person to a habit of wrongdoing, but does not lessen the aggravated character of the sin. God has established immutable principles, which He cannot change without a revision of His whole nature. If the word of God were faithfully studied by all who profess to believe the truth, they would not be dwarfs in spiritual things. Those who disregard the requirements of God in this life would not respect His authority were they in heaven. {4T 311.4}

Adam og Eva måtte lide de frygtelige følger af ulydighed mod Guds udtrykkelige befaling. De kunne have ræsonneret sådan: Dette er en meget lille synd og vil aldrig blive taget i betragtning. Men Gud behandlede sagen som et frygteligt onde; (312) og de ulykkelige følger af deres overtrædelse vil mærkes gennem alle tider. I den tid vi lever i, bliver synder af langt større omfang, ofte begået af sådanne, som bekender sig til at være Guds børn. I forretningsanliggender bliver usandheder ofte sagt og udøvet af dem, der bekender sig til at være Guds folk og påfører dem hans vrede og bringer skam over hans sag. Den mindste afvigelse fra sandhed og retskaffenhed er en overtrædelse af Guds lov.