Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”……….. But the serpent said to the woman, “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.” Genesis 3:1, 4-5 ESV
In this passage in Genesis, Satan causes the fall of all humanity and the destruction of God’s creation with just two, what seemed pretty harmless, little deceiving lies. He just took their eyes off God and pointed them elsewhere. How many times have you justified some little compromise or exception to do what you want instead of what God wants for you? What we don’t acknowledge most of the time is that Satan is whispering in our head and we are entertaining him instead of following Jesus’ example: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10) Oh it takes so little for us to fall off that straight and narrow path. Satan’s whole goal is to destroy us. Not a single word he says is truthful. Even when Satan tempted Jesus, those were lies too!
When you face those moments of deception, claim what Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Challenge
- Do you recognize when Satan is tempting you or do you see it as you are fighting your own desires in your own strength?
- What a is a specific small temptation that caused you to falter?
- What destruction can you see in your own life from something that started so small?
By Andy Finch | Truckee, CA