The Devil Wears a Tie (Continued)

       In the last article, we have seen Eve's response to satan's deceitful question over God's command concerning partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Somehow she managed to add to the divine warning. Being cautious over consuming the fruit was not enough. There was, at some point, an implementation of fear over even looking at it! One may think that this was a noble way of avoiding temptation, but if he were to take into account the way in which Eve succumbed to the devil's enticing words, then he would understand that her added standard stemmed from a latent, self-righteous motive rather than a wholesome desire for purity. Proverbs 30:5-6 states, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” It is imperative that we hold to the true doctrine of God's word, but it is equally important that we keep ourselves from adding to what has already been revealed. Simple obedience to His commands is far greater than striving, out of a sense of holy zeal, to come up with regulatory sacrifices. However we view Eve's reasoning for mishandling what God said, we don't need to settle here in pious reflection; but to observe, take note, and move on.

       

      There is much more to cover concerning her spiritually fatal encounter with the devil. His response to her affirmation over not eating or touching the fruit, lest her and Adam die, began with a rejection to God's warning. He said simply, “Ye shall not die (Gen. 3:4b).” The devil seeks to plant a seed of doubt into what God has revealed in His word, but once he sees unbelief take root, he will swiftly snatch the opportunity to land-blast the ways of the Almighty. Hence, what Christ said in Luke's gospel, “A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it...Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved (8:5, 12).” I cannot help but think of the many people who have scoffed at me over my belief in a Divine Creator. It is always the same generic criticism, “Don't you know that science has replaced God?! You still believe in a 'god of the gaps!' Don't you realize that mankind invented God just to control people? You are just some mindless sheep, but I'm a freethinker!” Of course, when pressed on their own understanding of science and of good and evil, their arguments tend towards a befuddled mess of contradictions and crass remarks.

(Depiction of the devil tempting William Booth to shoot Abraham Lincoln)

         

        The reality is that there are many people who have, for a long time, been conditioned to disregard and even disdain the notion of heavenly providence and holy purpose. In a government run school, they heard some talking head say, “You are a highly evolved blob.” Through watching Hollywood's propaganda, they saw the portrayal of a Christian as being a mindless, angry bigot. In college, they listened to a tedious lecture on the uselessness of religion. Over and over, they were bombarded with the message to disregard the notion of God. From the consumption of mainline music, controlled curriculum, and mass media, the focus was and is on man's happiness and empowerment. Understand that no matter what trumped up argument is presented against the gospel, whether through famous entertainment or pristine lectures, the foundation of such bitter criticism is rooted in the devil's words, “Ye shall not die.” By this, I don't mean that people think they will be immortal, even though there are now re-occurring discussions on AI and human interface, but that the devil wants people to overlook the truth that they are “dead in sins (Colossians 2:13),” and in need of a Savior.

       He wants you to look at the Bible's message of judgment and laugh at it. He wants you to feel that there is no need to have a “broken and a contrite heart (Psalms 51:17).” Why have guilt over anything? There is only you and the open road of life! Live it to the fullest! Just like John Lennon famously sang, “Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky.” Oh how it thrills satan when people are convinced that they are safe building their lives on society's shifting sands (Matthew 7:26)! The apostle Peter once warned believers that, “...there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3).” This is such a clear depiction of the attitude of this generation towards the gospel. How sad it is that even many professed believers have forgotten the true gospel. They are so focused on a gospel that makes people feel good and act better, that they have tossed aside the glorious message that Christ came to redeem those who were dead in their sins, so that they might live unto righteousness! 

       Don't listen to the lies of the devil. Without the Spirit of Christ living in you (Galatians 2:20), you will certainly face death. True, we must all experience physical death, but there is a much worse death that awaits those who reject the Giver of all life. It is an eternal death in hell. Let's heed to Solomon's twice spoken warning, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25),” and cling to the promise that, “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death (Proverbs 12:28).”