“Beware Of Deception Based On Half-truths!”

“Beware Of Deception Based On Half-truths!”(Gen.3:1-7).
Serpent: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Eve: “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.'”
Serpent: “You will surely not 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.”
This discussion between the crafty serpent and Eve changed the course of human history.
On predestination not all Christian doctrines hold the same view concerning the Fall of man. Infralapsarians hold that the Fall was an occasion for election and reprobation, choosing some and ignoring some among the fallen. Meanwhile supralapsarians hold that the Fall had nothing to do with election or reprobation. The tree whose fruit changed the course of history was already there in the garden. Why was it there in the first place? The very presence of the tree was a source of temptation in itself.
The importance of the tree was to test the obedience of humankind. The LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die”(Gen.2:16-17).
In the diabolic dialogue between the serpent and Eve, the serpent portrayed God as a liar when he told Eve, “You will surely not die.” (Eve also added a lie to God’s truth when she said God said, “you must not touch it”)! The serpent continued, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
At this moment Eve took interest as she saw that “the fruit of the tree was good for food and was pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it…”
It is not just about disobedience, but wanting to be like God.
Where is Mr Adam? How come the first man is so passive and seemingly not in control! Having enjoyed the fruit, “she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
One can easily see through and escape from deception that is based on falsehood; but it is blurry to see through a deception that is built on half-truths! What had enticed Eve to eat the fruit was to be like God. Yes, they ate the fruit and theirs eyes were opened. But their eyes were opened to a different reality than the one promised by the serpent. “They realized they were naked…”
Dear friend, in the early days of the season of Lent we are taken down memory lane to remind ourselves of the reason why we are here.
Disobedience to God and wanting to be like him is inately hidden in our bosoms. The three aspects of temptation, “good for food… pleasing to the eye… desirable for gaining wisdom…”, accost us daily. Jesus himself faced it and overcame (cf Lk.4:3,5,9).
It is not about Eve and Adam; it is about you and I! Whom do you choose to obey; God or the serpent? Do you submit to God or you want to be like him?
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, turn my eyes from looking at vanities and not to listen to the voice of a stranger. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.