Illusions /// Emma Landry

    When reading Book 11, I noticed a theme of illusions that Adam entertains that can still confuse Christians to this day. First, Adam despairs at having to leave the garden for good, concerned that he will not be able to reach God and have his prayers heard. While his lamentation at being forced to leave the specially designated garden of plenty is valid, Adam seems to doubt that he and Eve will ever be in the presence of God again. However, Michael assures him that "Heav'n His and all the Earth, not this rock only: His omnipresence fills land, sea, and air and every kind that lives" (11.335-337). I feel like this was a convicting passage for me to read. Amid the business of everyday life, it can be easy to forget that God is always there with me. It is always a comfort when I am reminded of this fact, however. Similarly, Adam seems relieved to find that, though what once was has now been marred by his and Eve's actions, there is still hope. 

    Adam's assumption that he will be out of God's presence completely is thankfully false. Though separated by his sin, God does not and will not abandon him because he loves His creation. The "capital seat" (11.343) of Eden can be compared to a place of worship (a church building). In today's world, it has become common to overhear worshipers say something along the lines of "God really showed up today!" or "I could really feel that the Holy Spirit was present in worship today." While it is wonderful to be engaged in worship and plugged in to hearing the Lord's voice, such statements imply that God was not there before and that He arrived through the act of worship (though surely this is nearly always an unintentional implication). However, as Michael emphasizes to Adam, the Creator is omnipresent. Though Milton has included some claims throughout this work that raise the question whether he promotes heretical beliefs or is just embellishing for his own entertainment, this is one solid piece of dogma on which all Christians should be able to agree. Although Adam has been distraught, the revelation of omnipresence is a great comfort to him and lifts his spirits significantly. Though he has lost so much, he still has joy and hope because of God's availability for him and Eve. This is reminiscent of the story of Job and his steadfastness in the Lord that remained even after he experienced seemingly unbearable grief.

    The second illusion that Adam is fooled by unfolds when Michael shows him visions of the future. After witnessing horrifying brotherly murder involving his future sons and a "lazar-house" full of miserably ill people, the vision of the artisans and the revelry of the men and women at the party seems much more desirable and pleasant to him. However, Michael tells Adam to "judge not what is best by pleasure though to nature seeming meet" (11.603-604). This sends the message that Christians ought not to allow emotions to control them to avoid being led into sorrow. The fall of Adam and Eve explicitly displays the disappointments that follow from giving into passion and disregarding rational thought and heavenly commands. God's truth is the only thing on which one can truly depend because feelings are fleeting and misleading. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). The only thing that is reliable is the truth of God. Individual emotions simply cannot accurately judge the righteousness of a situation or decision without the Lord's guidance.

 I commented on Ian Blair's and Emily Thullesen's posts.

     

Comments

  1. Abigale BellSeptember 27, 2021 at 12:30 PM

    WOW! I loved reading your post! It's true that people (myself included) often take God for granted. When we forget that God is omnipresent, we limit Him to our own situation or environment. I also agree with your statement that we cannot judge our actions based simply on our emotions. No matter how hard that may be.

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  2. Emily ThullesenSeptember 27, 2021 at 4:31 PM

    Your post was wonderful! The comment about how we let emotions control our actions and judgment really stuck out to me. I believe this is something that should be talked about more often! We often justify our sin or our current feelings based off of how we wish things would truly be, but this is instead just creating a false reality in which we accept the situation for something far from it. This is definitely an interesting concept that ties into the story.
    -Emily Thullesen

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  3. Brooke BradleySeptember 27, 2021 at 7:19 PM

    Your post was very insightful, but also encouraging. Many times in my walk with God, I allow my sin to cause me to despair, just like Adam did. I think it is human nature to doubt God's steadfast love, especially because of sin, but it is so important to remember that sin is not the end of the story. There is the fall, but there is also redemption and restoration, and we can rest in that. Praise God!

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