The most profound and recurring patterns in human spiritual history: the distortion of truth after separation from God, the restoration of divine vision through Christ, and the return to distortion when people lose focus again. Let’s walk through this deeply and in detail:
From Eden to Today: The Cycle of Distortion and Restoration
The Garden of Eden: Undistorted Vision, Direct Connection
In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in the presence of God. This is key.
- They had no “box,” no false paradigms, no idolatry.
- Their identity was pure: Children of God, walking with Him daily.
- Their center was God Himself, not possessions, not self, not pleasure — they lived in principle-centered unity with their Creator.
But once they disobeyed God, something critical happened:
“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they realized they were naked…” (Genesis 3:7)
- This wasn’t just about shame. It was about a shift in paradigm — a fracture in vision.
- They were cast out of the garden — and cut off from God’s direct presence (Genesis 3:23–24).
- From this moment forward, humanity began to project, assume, fear, blame — the exact attributes of being in the box, as Arbinger describes.
Humanity Post-Eden: The Rise of Idolatry and Life-Centered Living
Without God’s direct presence, humanity began to:
- Create idols — physical, ideological, and emotional substitutes for God (money, power, relationships, etc.)
- Build life-centered paradigms — becoming work-centered, nation-centered, law-centered, pleasure-centered.
- Live “in the box” — justifying selfishness, seeing others as threats or tools, distorting reality through ego.
As Avraham Gileadi warns, God’s people often keep His name and worship in appearance, but mix it with idols — a counterfeit faith.
Christ: The Inbreaking of Light and Correction
When Jesus Christ came, He restored the original lens.
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Jesus refocused humanity:
- He taught principles (truth, love, justice, mercy, service).
- He lived them as a perfect example — the only truly principle-centered person in history.
- He exposed distorted paradigms: especially those of the Pharisees, who followed religion without love, form without Spirit.
He said clearly:
“You honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)
“By their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:16)
This was the ultimate “getting out of the box” moment in human history.
After the Crucifixion: Re-contorted Vision
But after Jesus’ death and resurrection, human nature took over again:
- Early followers stayed centered — but even then, divisions began (Paul addresses this constantly in his letters).
- As time passed, systems formed that once again became life-centered: church-centered, power-centered, law-centered, self-centered.
- People worshiped the forms of Christianity, but often forgot the Spirit.
Just like Covey warns:
“If who I am is what I have — and what I have is lost — then who am I?”
Just like Arbinger explains:
“When we betray ourselves, we justify our behavior by blaming others — and we put ourselves in the box.”
And just like Gileadi teaches:
“Idolatry is mixing the true worship of God with false worship. It becomes a pattern, a momentum we justify.”
The Solution: Return to Christ, Return to Center
The good news is this: Christ is still available. His teachings are still clear. We are still invited to:
- Drop our idols.
- Get out of the box.
- Leave our false paradigms.
- And center our lives on eternal principles — the ones embodied in Jesus Christ.
As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf beautifully said:
“We don’t change our hearts to align with one another — we all change our hearts to align with the Savior.”
And when we do — we return, in a sense, to Eden. Not physically, but spiritually. We walk once again in communion with God.
