Do we forget how awful sin really is in God's eyes? Read again the story of Noah's Ark and God's plan to salvage his beloved, wicked mankind from utter, complete destruction. Then read another story of some who suddenly saw the seriousness of sin.

Wycliffe missionary Desmond Oatridge served in New Guinea among the Binumariens. What a task! These wild folks had virtually wiped themselves out, reducing their census from 2,000 to 212. But these reckless, lawless, unpredictable killers would eventually become transformed by the Word of Truth!

The Binumariens thought the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had good and bad fruit on it - a good side and a bad side - but it was impossible to tell by looking. Eve just happened to eat from the bad side; that's why we're all helplessly bad, too.

Desmond explained that the problem was not the fruit. It was disobedience. He taught them that God said, "Do not EAT it." He said there's lots of disobedience - to parents, teachers, authority of every kind. He challenged them: "Is there disobedience among the Binumariens?"

The light dawned! Their answer was instantaneous, eager and honest: "Why, we're just full of it!"

God, search my heart. Show me my disobedience. Show me God's remedy: Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection.

Miriam Loghry