Satan’s DeceptionSýnishorn

God’s Integrity Is Questioned

Satan’s strategy was to destroy the harmony that kept God, Adam, and Eve in perfect union. He attacked the trust that was indispensable to their relationship. This enemy of God deceived Eve by carefully wording his conversation with her, suggesting that trust in God’s Word and His integrity was not crucial. When Adam and Eve doubted the truthfulness of God’s words, the flow of His divine life to His human creation was obstructed.

Without trust, there can be no relationship, so alienation replaced relationship. Fear replaced courage. Disease replaced health. Turmoil replaced peace. Deficiency replaced abundance. Shame replaced dignity. Division replaced unity. Separation replaced equality. Segregation of social classes, the domination of men over women, of the wealthy over the poor, of the strong over the weak, and all such inequities replaced the loving mutual interdependence that the human family had enjoyed when they walked with God. Everything that had been created to function in harmonious perfection became fractured.

Adam and Eve chose to believe Satan’s lie over God’s truth. That was the original sin, a catastrophic blow to humanity that severed the life flow between people and God. Deterioration and death began the work of physical and spiritual destruction. The sin of doubt, or mistrust, separated Adam and Eve—and consequently the entire human race—from God and His life. Because God is the Author of life, where His life is not present, death reigns.

Satan’s deception led to what we call the fall of humankind. Separated from God’s life, humanity was plunged into the gloom and darkness of death. This insidious infection contaminated the entire human race through Adam and Eve and every member of the human family. All, therefore, have sinned, and the harvest of that sin is death.

Death is the word used in Scripture to describe three types of separation—first, the spiritual separation from God. People who are estranged from their Creator and His life are spiritually dead. Second, death is the separation of the body from the spirit. Third, there is the second death, which is eternal separation from God. Those who pass into eternity without accepting God’s invitation to come into relationship with Him experience the second death. But death was not God’s idea. Therefore, He provided a way back to Himself through His Son, Jesus; in Him, there’s life.

Thank You, God, for making a way back to You. Lord Jesus, I receive Your abundant life today.