Then they began to make excuses and to blame others, just as we often do when it is found out that we have done wrong; but they could not deceive their Creator. He told them they should have a life of toil and trouble, and would finally die. Then they were driven from their beautiful garden home.
After that the earth was to be the battle ground between good and evil, between Satan and the Gospel. The Garden of Eden contained so many of the beautiful things of God that it was too sacred to become such a battle ground. Sin must not mar it. So man was driven from it to build for himself, as best he could, a new home which he must keep in order by hard work.
The earth was cursed with weeds and thistles; but this was not a real evil to fallen man; for while sin is in the world even hard work is a blessing because it helps to keep people out of mischief. It has been truly said that Satan always finds work for idle hands to do.
By disobeying God and obeying Satan man became the servant of sin and Satan. Paul says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?" Romans 6:16.
Driven from Eden.
By obeying Satan man lost his dominion of the earth, and it passed into the hands of Satan. Thus he became "the god of this world."
"To them, bowed low with grief for sin, the shining ones made known the way to heaven."