A 'Simple' Lie

Throughout the course of a single day the average person is exposed to over 600
advertisements and some studies suggest that number could rise to as many as 3000! A personal
pet peeve is the amount of commercials I am subjected to while trying to enjoy any sporting
event. Impossible to miss during any game are the numerous alcohol commercials competing
for my attention. While it is expected to see alcohol companies promote their product during
a sporting event I cannot help but notice the promise of a “good time” that permeates these
advertisements. Of course it is not surprising that these companies choose to leave out the
consequences produced from drinking, this wouldn’t be very good for business. The allure of
sin operates in this fashion; promising something to be good while attempting to cover over
the destructive consequences that it produces. What greater assault against those bearing God’s
image than to present something that is evil as something that is good?

Satan’s first attack upon God’s creation establishes itself in this very manner (Gen
3:1-5). ‘Did God really say’ are the first words out of the deceiver’s mouth, and while initially
the question seems innocent enough the implications are significant. Satan planting seeds of
doubt into the mind of Eve enabled her to look at that which was forbidden as something
desirable (v. 6). The questioning towards Eve is helpful to see how Satan chooses to attack the
people of God through a subtle change to God’s original command regarding the garden. Shall
you not eat of any tree in the Garden? God never makes this statement; in fact He says quite the
opposite. He has told them that they may eat freely of any tree. It is only the tree of knowledge
they may not eat from (2:16-17). It is not an outright dismissal of what God has said, but in
challenging God’s precepts one stands against God. Eve takes the bait and begins her decent into
sin. She begins a dialogue with the serpent and adds to the command of God by stating she may
not even touch the tree, another statement never uttered by Yahweh. The addition falsely
portrays God as strict, and to a degree oppressive. Satan’s response that they shall not die
includes only the addition of one word to God’s command, which is enough to radically alter the
meaning. Satan still is telling a half-truth, their eyes will be opened, but he is misleading them to
believe the results will be beneficial, not destructive. It is imperative to take heed of this tactic in
order to recognize it in our own lives. Removing judgment from an action is an appealing option,
but it is never ours to make. Satan’s attack is directly against God’s word and how one should
respond is given in the example of Jesus’ answer to the same manner of attack (Luke 4:2-13).
Jesus replies with the correct statement of scripture, not an altered version as Eve did. She
accepted Satan’s lie and replaced God’s truth in order to achieve personal “progress.” Eve saw
the fruit in a different light, no longer was it forbidden but desirable. What a greater difficultly it
becomes to escape sin when we no longer understand something as wrongful but begin to see it
in a desirable light. What a difference between the pronouncements God makes about what is
good to what Eve sees as good. The desire for self-improvement has now cast away God’s
warning and rendered it irrelevant to both Adam and Eve. Adam who was with her is far from
free regarding responsibility here as he willingly participates and does nothing to stand in the
way of this fatal choice. After partaking of the fruit the eyes of both of them were opened. Indeed
they have received the guarantee of the promise, but its effects are catastrophically different to
what was portrayed. The high hopes of Satan’s promise end in absolute disappointment and
shame.

Just like the promise of “good times” given by alcohol commercials, sin packages itself
in this manner. We find the precepts of God challenged and begin to question if these actions
really are worthy of judgement. What should be a clear line regarding what is right and what is
wrong continually is being pushed back when we diminish the corrosive effects of sin. It is a
great injustice when we fail to recognize the effects of sin and refuse to not only combat it in our
own lives, but in the lives of others as well. We are faced with the constant danger of relying on
what “feels” right or pursuing something that seems “desirable.” Thankfully through Christ we
have been saved from our sin (1 John 1:7) and have been given the gift of God’s Word to guide
us in “training for righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16-17). Thankfully because of Christ we are able to
be cleansed from our sin and through the waters of baptism our old selves die in the process.
Although we will still sin (1 John 1:8) we must strive to put sin to death in our lives (Col 3:5ff).
The warning is that Satan will continue to try and alter God’s word on the matter by attempting
to diminish the significance of sin by stating that we shall surely not die.