Yes — people naturally run from God because their fallen human nature loves darkness and is at enmity with Him.
Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden instead of running to meet Him. Jesus said men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil, and everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it. Les Feldick explains that this is the Adamic nature and it has never changed.
Genesis 3:8 — This is the first example of humans running from God: after they sinned, Adam and Eve hid from Him.
John 3:19 — It gives the reason people run from God — they love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
Romans 3:11 — It confirms that no one naturally seeks after God.
Scripture is emphatic that fallen man does not naturally seek God. In John's Gospel, Jesus says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19–20). Thus the problem is not a lack of light but a heart that hates the light because the light exposes evil. The same truth appears in Romans: “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:11). The natural mind is set against God: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Even in the garden, when Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord, they hid themselves among the trees (Genesis 3:8).
Les Feldick traces the human tendency to run from God all the way back to the Garden of Eden. He points out that Adam and Eve, even after sewing fig leaves, hid when they heard God walking in the garden; they didn't want to meet God. Les says this has never changed — mankind will always run from God, because human nature loves darkness rather than light. Les explains that the Gospel light exposes our sinfulness, and people would rather stay in spiritual darkness than have their deeds reproved. He emphasizes that no human being ever seeks God; God is always the seeker and always makes the first move. Yet Les clarifies that this does not mean God has simply forgotten some, as he says extreme Calvinism teaches.
After Adam and Eve sinned they sewed fig leaves and thought they had covered their nakedness, but when they heard the Lord God walking in the garden, they ran and hid (Genesis 3:8). Les points out that they did not run to meet God; they hid, and God had to find them. He says this has never changed — mankind will always run from God.
Jesus explained that light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to it, fearing that his deeds will be reproved (John 3:19–20). Les says the first thing the Gospel shows a person is their sinfulness, and we don't want to see that — so people prefer spiritual darkness.
Romans 3:11 states plainly, “There is none that seeketh after God.” Les emphasizes that no human being ever seeks God; God is always the seeker and always makes the first move. Mankind will never, of his own volition, go looking for God — it is contrary to our makeup.
Les tells of a young woman who stamped her foot and said “I hate God” when confronted with the demands of a loving God. He says lost people can put on a good veneer, but when prodded, old Adam comes out. Whether the lost person realizes it or not, he is an enemy of God and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7).
Adam and Eve hid from God
Les uses Adam and Eve's hiding to show that running from God is the Adamic nature; it has never changed.
Men run to darkness instead of light
Les says those who do evil will not come to the light; they run and hide rather than have their deeds reproved.
Refusing to step into the light
Les says the Word is near every person, but they refuse to step into the light because it would reveal what they are really made of.
Lost people are enemies of God
Les says a person may put on a good veneer, but when confronted with God's demands, their true colors show — they are enemies of God.
Preferring spiritual darkness
Les says no one seeks after God; people would rather stay in spiritual darkness than let the Gospel show them their sinfulness.
God is always the seeker
Les teaches that no human being ever seeks God; God always makes the first move and prompts a human being to respond.
Mankind never of its own volition seeks God
Les shows that Adam and Eve hid until God found them; mankind will never go looking for God of his own will.
Hiding from the Holy Creator
Les repeats the garden scene to show that the human race hasn't changed — when confronted with God, people run and hide.
Genesis 3:8: And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
This shows the first record of human beings running from God immediately after sin entered.
John 3:19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jesus gives the core reason people reject the light: their own evil deeds.
John 3:20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
This explains why evildoers avoid the light — they are afraid of exposure and reproof.
Romans 3:11: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Paul confirms that fallen humanity does not seek God on its own.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This shows that the natural mind is hostile to God and cannot obey Him.
Yes. After they sinned, they sewed fig leaves and hid when they heard God walking in the garden (Genesis 3:8). Les says this hiding shows the Adamic nature — mankind has run from God ever since.
Because the Gospel light exposes sin. Les explains that people refuse to step into the light because it reveals what they are really made of; they don't want their deeds reproved.
Les says God is always the seeker. God always makes the first move and prompts a human being to respond; no one comes to God on their own.
Les says no — this truth does not mean God has simply forgotten some, as extreme Calvinism teaches. He emphasizes that God makes the first move in seeking sinful people.
Watch the Teaching: What Happened When Adam Sinned? Genesis 3:14-24 Explained