"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1. We all know this verse. The beginning of it all. The beginning of the greatest story ever told. The story that has been thousands of years in the making. The story that is still being lived out, but the end is already engraved. God created the light and darkness, the animals and the land, the fish and the sea, he created the stars and the sun, and he created man. Man was God's special creation, as he breathed life into this lifeless creature. Man was created in God's image and likeness, meaning Man could have a personal relationship with God that uniquely reflected his love and character. Man was created to know and obey God willingly. Man was created in the beginning with no faults, with no flaws, sinless. The first man was Adam, the first to have a personal relationship with God. The next, Eve, the first woman. Together they would live in the beautiful garden that the God had made for them. In this garden, there was no need to have to worry about safety, for animals were not dangerous. There was no need to worry about where the next meal would come from, for there were fruits of all kinds in the garden. Rivers flowed through the garden as a source of clean water. Everything was perfect in the lives of the first man and woman. No need to worry about shelter, for there was no rain, no cloudy days. In this perfect place, there was only one rule, only one thing that could make man fall. The tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of the breaking of this rule? Certain death.
Since the creation of man, God had a plan for man, they were to rule over all living creature, and to multiply the earth, but there was a force counteracting this plan. Ever since Lucifer was thrown down from heaven with a third of the angels he corrupted and persuaded to follow him, he had planning revenge. As Eve was roaming through the garden, picking fruit, petting animals, enjoying the creation that God had made, the enemy slipped into the scene. As he took the form of a serpent, and slithered around the tree that was off limits, he waited for Eve to come closer to the tree. He had been waiting for this day since he fell from heaven. Just watching, anticipating the moment, going over strategies of what he would say, as Eve made her way closer to the tree exploring the beautiful garden of Eden. The serpent made his attack, in a smooth tone, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?' (Gen. 3:1) Eve calmly responded with the rule that had been concreted into her memory, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" (3: 2-3) The serpent, anticipating this response, knowing this was going to be said, slyly made his checkmate move, "You will not surely die, For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (3:4-5) Eve, taken aback, began TO DOUBT what God had told her. The spiritual warfare that must have been going on inside of her head. The history of mankind lingering on this one decision to trust what God says, or to be deceived and disobey. As the thoughts of rebelling began to weigh heavier and heavier as she allowed the thoughts to pour in. She looked at the fruit she was forbidden to even touch. With that look, the thoughts she allowed to swarm into her head, became contemplations. She saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye, it looked good, plus, she was going to gain wisdom if she tried it. Maybe God was wrong? One fruit won't cause God to kill me? Just this one time... She reached out, pulse pounding, as satan hissed his approval. She took hold of the fruit and took a bite, allowing sin to propel into the once flawless world. (3:6)
With this, Satan grasped the keys to death, hell, and the grave. He accomplished what he set out to do, destroy God's plan. Satan deceived and convinced Eve that she could disobey God, sin, and there would be no consequences. This is still Satan's sale pitch today. Every temptation he lingers in front of you, he tries to convince you that there will be no consequences, that you can ask for forgiveness later, that one little sin will be okay, God understands. But, there is a reason that Satan is called the father of lies. He knows exactly what to say for it to capture your attention, then he will question what you believe. Once he has you doubting, he will tempt you. If you ever battle with doubts of God, please please please remember this one bit of truth: Satan is the king of doubts. His very first temptation he ever threw at mankind was doubting what God said. If you have heard from God, if you have been given a promise from God, don't you dare let the enemy put thoughts of doubt into your head. Know that the enemy is going to bring doubts against God! That is his nature, that is what he does! But God, His nature is truth, His nature is pure. Who will you trust? You see, when Satan convinced Eve that she could sin and there would be no consequences, he was trying to separate Adam and Eve from God. The consequence of eating the tree, sin, was death. Death is separation. Separation or death in their relationship with God. Sin will always attack relationships!
The next chapter in Genesis, is Cain and Able. Sin is now in the World. Cain knows that sin has consequences. He has heard his mother and father tell him the story of how they ate the fruit and disobeyed God, he knew that every decision has a consequence. He knew that sin was crouching at his door, yet he allowed the enemy to put thoughts of doubt into his head. He allowed the father of lies to tell him that killing his brother would have no consequences. He kills his brother, and is separated from his family. Satan told Eve that sin would have no consequences, yet here she is, spiritually separated from God, and without a son. She was told by God that the consequence of sin was death, yet she allowed the doubts from the father of lies to infiltrate her mind.
Not far away, in Chapter 4, we see the story of a man named Lamech. He sins by having more than one wife, and he kills a man and brags about it. Sin is growing and growing in the world. Satan told Eve that there would be no consequences, she doubted God when he said that the consequence of sin was death...
In chapter 5 we see a long list of names and genealogy. Beside each name is 2 numbers, the number of children they had, and the age he was when he died. Name after name is listed in this chapter, yet they all die. Satan said there was no consequence...
But Satan didn't get the final word.
Adam and Eve are kicked out of this incredible garden. This perfect place. They are separated in their relationship with God. Spiritual death has taken over their life. All hope seems to be lost. But no sooner than they are kicked out of the garden, God makes a promise. In Genesis chapter 3:15, we see the first implication of God's promise and plan to defeat evil and restore his relationship with people. God tells the serpent that one will come that will crush the snakes head. Can you just picture the look of horror that forms on Satan's face. His plan, his golden plan of revenge, backfiring. One would come, the Holy, All Powerful, Son of God. He WOULD come, He WOULD be victorious, He WOULD pay the ultimate price, He WOULD take back the keys to death, hell, and the grave. He WOULD crush the snakes head. We see this take place in the gospels, as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes to earth and takes sin upon his back on the cross, and dies the most brutal of deaths so that this human race that has betrayed Him over and over and over, could live for eternity with him.
Satan hasn't given up. All though squashed, and defeated, he is still in the deceiving business today. Telling you God isn't real. That God doesn't love you. That your sin is too great to be forgiven. That you will never succeed, you will always be a failure. That you will never make a difference. That you will never succeed in ministry. That the promise God gave you is never going to come to pass. That God isn't really speaking to you. That no one loves you. That you are worthless. That sin does not have consequences. That you can get by with sinning and nothing will happen (For those who still think they can sin without there being a consequence, remember this: Every time you are tempted, something WILL die. Either your flesh, or your spirit, depending on how you respond to temptation)... Whatever the doubts are that are creeping into your mind, know that Satan is the father of lies. His one and only goal is to take as many as he can to hell with him. For he knows his future, he knows what his destiny holds. Like I said in the beginning, all though the story of this world is still being written, the end has already been written. Revelation 20:10. Read it, and throw it in the Devil's face. Remind him of his future. Remind him of his final destination. He will be thrown into a burning lake of sulfur to be tormented for ever, and for ever. If you stay away from sin, live in a relationship with Christ, follow the commandments of Christ, and don't let satan control you with doubt; you will live in glory for eternity. For ever in the presence of the One that gave His life for you.
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God"
Psalm 42:1
I want to hear you preach this!
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