Cover to Cover
Reading: Genesis 1:1-4:26
Focus: Genesis 3:1-5
The story of Genesis—that is, literally, “the beginning”—is a story many people are familiar with. The seven days of creation, God’s creation of humankind, the story of Adam and Eve and their subsequent fall, the introduction of sin and the consequences of sin in human life (beginning with the murder of Abel by his brother Cain). However, I wonder if we realise the reality that continues to plague us even today. The beginning of Eve’s temptation and one of the continuing enemies in our battle with sin—deception.
The words of the serpent are filled with this poison placing doubt and confusion in Eve’s mind, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” Far from it! God commanded freedom, “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.” What follows only goes to prove that the poison had succeeded, Eve finds herself putting words in God’s mouth, “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.’” God never said anything about touching it…
Yet, such is the case throughout history and continuing today. Most people see Christianity as just a bunch of rules, do this, do that, don’t do this, don’t do that… though that is a far cry from the life to which God created and called us to live. The story of creation paints a picture of paradise and bliss which we were to be a part of, yet Satan’s crafty deception ruined all that was meant to be. Today, Satan’s deception continues to poison the lives of each one of us, taking away from the pleasures of life that God has created for us to enjoy.
Where has Satan deceived you into believing that God wants something sub-standard to the life you’re living? God is not some cruel father who withholds life’s pleasures, like Adam and Eve, He does warn us about those which are not beneficial to us, but on the same token, He has blessed us abundantly with much else to enjoy.
Next Reading: Genesis 5:1-9:17
