February 13, 2009

The Lie Realized

“Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" — therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:22-24 NKJV)

There is sense of irony in God’s comment that man has become like one of us. He had, in a sense, as he was now acquainted with sin. However, man was not equipped for that knowledge, and the way he obtained it made him sinful. Therefore, man was only like God in that he now realized the impact of his disobedience. Now he realized the serpent had lied.

The devil and the flesh are always lying to us. The Scriptures describe a man’s heart as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Not only is our own heart deceptive, but spirits will try to deceive us. “. . . the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV).

Don’t buy into the lies. Keep yourself unspotted from the world (James 1:27). Sin only brings death and misery. It promises a better life, but it kills the one who eats of its fruit.

The devil told Eve you shall not surely die. He is telling you, you shall not die. The doctrine of salvation without repentance has flooded the modern church. Don’t believe it for one second. Unless you repent, you will likewise perish (Luke 13:1-5).