On the anniversary of a profound moment in history, we are reminded of mankind's persistent endeavor to grasp the knowledge of good and evil apart from God. This pursuit was starkly illustrated 74 years ago with the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, leading to Japan's surrender on August 15. The decision to use such devastating power, born from the fear of German and Japanese advancements in nuclear weaponry, reflects humanity's attempt to wield authority over life and death, a choice made in the shadow of potential malfunctions and continued conflict. The staggering casualty predictions, ranging from 1.7 to 4 million Allied losses and 5 to 20 million Japanese deaths, underscore the grave consequences of this path. Mankind's actions, whether through violent wars or the creation of weapons beyond control, reveal a world striving to define good and evil on its own terms, often at a horrific cost.

The concept of knowing good and evil emerges from the earliest accounts of human nature, as seen in the tree from which Adam and Eve partook in Genesis. This tree granted them the awareness of both good and evil, revealing the dual nature inherent in humanity. Despite this knowledge, human goodness remains insufficient to meet the righteous standards required by God. Throughout history, as God observes in Genesis 6:5, the wickedness of man is great, with every intent of the heart being only evil continually. Even after the Flood, God acknowledges in Genesis 8:21 that the imagination of man's heart remains evil from youth, unchanged by catastrophic judgment. This persistent corruption underscores that, while humans may possess knowledge of good and evil, their nature is deeply inclined toward the latter, unable to fully align with divine righteousness without divine intervention.