It is said when we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. We are living in a time when that warning feels especially true.
Adam and Eve had everything they could have possibly wanted. They could have eaten the fruit of any tree in the garden except one.
God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told them to do so would result in death.
God did not say He would kill them. He simply told them what the results of their own actions would be.
So what was the big deal about this tree? How could a tree that had good in it be that evil?
Eve did not know. In fact, when she realized there were things she did not know, she felt a pang of a feeling she didn’t understand. She felt deprived.
Satan smiled. His little pin prick was working.
He moved in closer. Like an expert salesman, he offered her the one thing she thought she didn’t have. He offered her wisdom.
Now this was not real wisdom. It was artificial through and through. But satan tried to sweeten the pot by telling Eve she could know all God knew.
Eve fell for satan’s line. She thought she could improve on what God had already given her. Satan’s bait and switch was working.
Eve exchanged gratitude to God for a power trip of getting what she thought was missing.
The results were disastrous. Adam and Eve got exactly what God had warned them about. They had knowledge of good and evil all mixed together in a true satanic brew.
They could no longer tell the difference between good and evil. Good looked evil. Evil looked good. Confusion and fear overtook them.
Satan laughed. He knew that even as limited as the humans were, they would never go for pure evil. He always needed some good to coat his evil.
He was not even above cloaking his evil in religion. Actually some of his best workers were religious people.
If his victims hesitated before choosing what he offered, he told them what was good and what was bad. After he had softened them up, they did not see him as a dictator. They saw him as their defender of all truth. They thought they could trust him.
If satan’s victims continued to hesitate, he enticed others to join him in pointing out what was good and what was bad. Even having one other person agree ramped up the possibility of false labeling. Eve did not eat alone. She waited for Adam to join her.
Beyond that, satan knew how to work a crowd. Having a bunch of people together believing and acting on his lies was satan’s favorite.
Satan continues to use this tactic today. Many will concede some things are bad (they rarely say evil), but they say, “It was necessary. The end justifies the means.” Or they will just simply turn away and say, “oh it’s not that bad, people are just over reacting.”
When people get confused, satan puts on whatever body he needs to and says, “Don’t worry. I will tell you what is true and what is false. You can trust me. I will tell you what is very good and what is very bad.”
Satan wants us to believe he is the way, the truth and the life. But he isn’t. He lies.
Jesus said,
“He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44
So what do you do if you already fell for satan’s lies?
Turn around and praise God He is still with you. Ask Him to show you The Real Truth. Walk His Way. Rejoice in the good Life.
If satan tries to deceive you again (and he will), remember Who God is. God is Love. Test every thought and every action by that one standard. Is it Love?
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8
And that is The Truth!
