Commentary and Reflection:
“With the serpent, a new figure appears in the narrative, one that exercised a tremendous influence on the subsequent history of the world. Moses turns from his description of the perfect conditions in Paradise to the history of the Fall, by which this earth was transformed from a world of happiness, love, and perfection to one of sorrow, hatred, and wickedness. Moses leaves unmentioned the blissful period in Eden, time spent in complete happiness, in the study of natural history, in tending the garden as God had ordained, and in daily communion with the Creator in the cool hours of eventime (Gen. 3:8).” SDABC Genesis 3:1
It is important to note that the worst lie is one that comes from a subtly capricious version of the truth, which pleases the senses and is accepted for selfish reasons. The most dangerous lie has a percentage of truth. It is like mango juice, for example. Most fruit juices only contain 5% fruit, and despite the 95% filtered water, citric acid, sugar, and ascorbic acid, it tastes delicious! By the way, what is ascorbic acid? I really don’t think about that when I drink it, because it tastes delicious, so it must be good.
Jesus called the adversary “father of lies”. His method is to start with a hybrid truth to lead to a total falsehood, “you are really immortal,” “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods,” and “you’ll see how ‘cool’ it is to know evil.” That’s just the beginning; along the way you’ll find curse and death.
It is surprising in our “super postmodern” time, or postmodernism on steroids, how each one has and reinforces their own truth with the help of algorithms. There are multiple options of influencers, tailored to taste, each one with their own version of “you will be like gods.”
The consequences were immediate and devastating for our first parents. What seemed “pleasing to the eyes and desirable to attain wisdom” soon turned into fear, shame, and death. They soon discovered that sin can be forgiven, but its consequences are inevitable. When they lost their two children, one murdered, the other outlawed, they realized that the enemy not only stabs the soul, but he also twists the blade. For us, the lesson remains, sin is deceptive and alienates us from God. The enemy makes it seem innocent, but it ends up causing death and deep pain.
Let’s not believe in parties, pleasures, and riches in exchange for our disobedience to the Creator. All those paths lead to destruction and death. If we don’t believe it, let’s look at the addict, the victim of a crime, the baby who lost his parents in an accident or in a drive-by shooting, the parents who lost their young son to an overdose. The adversary will tell you that it is a lie, that you should not believe your eyes or your ears, that it is worth exchanging family and life for a moment of pleasure.
If you need further proof, look at Calvary. There He is, hanging on a cross, the Lamb of God, His innocent Son, consummating the announced sacrifice, agreed on in the heavenly council before the foundation of the world, offering his life to pay the price, to strike the mortal blow to the head of the adversary, to offer hope, “so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Look today at Calvary, choose faith, choose obedience, choose life.
