“I clothe the heavens with blackness,
and I make sackcloth their covering.”
Isaiah 50:3

Sackcloth is the garment of mourning. When someone was grief-stricken or deeply convicted of sin, he would clothe himself “with sackcloth and ashes” and approach the Lord in all humility.

When sin entered the world through Adam, much more took place than we have any concept of. Sin is a powerful and deadly force. Romans chapter six says that when sin entered the world it brought death, bringing it not only upon us but upon the entire creation. Animals die. Even plants die. Even the heavens are covered with sackcloth. Sin and death rules the corruption at work in all of the world.

“For we know that the whole creation groans
and labors with birth pangs together until now.”
Romans 8:21

Scientists give their lives in the futility of trying to find a way to genetically alter man and undo the death principle, but they will always fail. As long as there is sin in the world, there will be death. There will be sin and death until the Redeemer comes and unveils the work of atonement that he accomplished for believers  at the Cross.

There is no human way to conquer death, but death WILL be conquered. The Creator took upon himself humanity in order to bear for us the judgment on our sins. When he returns, he will free the world of the corruption of sin and the death principle.

“…the creation itself also will be delivered
from the bondage of corruption…”
Romans 8:20

Until then, all efforts of man will fail. But we look forward to the glorious day when Christ will finally dispense with death and set the creation free.

“For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:14