Eyes wide open

Introduction

Truth is what every Christian should seek, affirm, and preserve, especially the truth of the gospel. There are many doctrinal lies being preached, but called “Christian doctrine,” that leads people to a faith that will eventually shipwreck. A shaky faith founded on subtle changes to God’s word will often finds itself in torrent seas, eventually running into obstacles that it cannot steer around. If you believe it and practice it, you will perish! Prosperity teaching comes to mind but there are many others. I say this all the time, “If your belief about God has holes, its not the truth.” I want you to think about what the scriptures say about leaven.

Read: Matthew 16:5-12; Galatians 5:7-10; 1 Co 5:6; 15:33). Explain even the most minute of leaven or yeast added to bread makes it leaven, whether or not it rises. Also the purpose of the unleavened bread.

This takes me to today’s verses. I want us to be mindful that these verses are not an argument about why evil entered into the world. It is about sin and guilt entering the world.

Genesis 3:1–7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely 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.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

I. The Adversary’s Craftiness

Genesis 3:1 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Many people are fascinated by this “talking serpent.” But one thing we must understand is this: all animals were made good by God. This serpent, whether literally a serpent or not, represents the voice of the accuser/tempter, which we identify as Satan or the devil (Rev 20:2). Also know this: we must read this from the cultural perspective of the Hebrew people. The serpent was reviled by the Hebrews as a source of uncleanness and a remembered menace. Nevertheless, the idea was not a “talking snake” but the accusers/tempters use of the snake to come against God’s plan. How did he accomplish it? By causing doubt in the mind of the woman through interrogation and misrepresentation. Look at how he (the accuser/tempter) begins his interrogation and misrepresentation of God’s word. “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” If you look back at Genesis 2:16-17, God never said that. What subtly changed about the phrase? The serpent added the word “not” to the phrase. God told Adam he had freedom to eat of every tree, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he will surely die. I want you to focus on how a subtle change to the truth can make a statement false. Know this: It is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). Although we like to think the devil can steal things from us like joy and material things, he cannot. We fight and resist the devil, but he cannot steal anything from a person who resists him. However, we will lose battles if we continue to allow subtle changes to God’s word. The devil does not care about your joy or materials. He ultimately cares about what you know because if you believe any distortion of God’s truth, your freedom becomes your bondage, which will lead to ultimately lead to your death.

II. Misrepresentation of truth

Genesis 3:2–3 ESV

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

Like the serpent, the woman misrepresented God. The LORD God words were, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (2:16-17). There was no mention of only “fruit” of the tree. Nor was there mention of touching it and dying. Also, there was another tree in the midst of the garden along with the tree of knowledge of good and evil—the tree of life (2:9). Thus, she did not identify which tree God said must not be eaten of. Also remember, it was Adam who was initially given the command regarding what can be eaten, which tree was prohibited to be eaten from, and the consequences of eating from it. The woman was made after the command was given to him. So, could the woman be reciting the very prohibitions Adam told her? It implies that. Notably the statement, “neither shall you touch it, lest you die.” I must make mention, for Israel “touch” is associated with prohibition and death or with consecration to God. I am not claiming the first people were Hebrews. Instead, I call attention to the fact the writer of Genesis was. Nevertheless, we know the woman’s dialogue with the serpent will open the door to sin and guilt. I believe these verses remind us of how important it is to resist temptation (study what it means to resist). It reminds us of how important it is for us to know and live according to God’s word or face misrepresenting Him, which is considered blasphemy. And again, It reminds us, the accusers scheme is to distort truth, not take your stuff. You believing a false narrative is more damaging than losing relationships and materials. Losing people and things will lead to emotional distress but believing a false narrative about God leads to eternal death. I believe these verses reminds us of the dangers of remaining infants, spiritually, and not attaining spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16).

III. Greatest lie ever told

Genesis 3:4–5 ESV

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely 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 is the greatest lie ever told. This is the most persistent lie ever told. This is the lie that is believed most. And this is the lie told in many of your pulpits today. I know those are bold statements, but it is true. Every lie told is some distortion of the truth. Was there truth in the serpent’s statement, “You will not surely die”? Yes. Was there some truth regarding eating and their eyes will be opened and they will know good and evil”? Yes. However, the serpent only spoke of what they would gain and not what they would lose in the process (hold on to that thought). Although they would not die immediately, the serpent failed to tell them they would die eventually. He failed to tell her eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil would lead to being expelled from not only the Garden, but the personal presence of God, which is death, spiritually. Finally, he failed to tell them being like God in knowing good and evil comes at the cost of being exposed and ashamed. However, here is the craziest part about this: Adam and the Woman were originally made in God’s image and likeness! So, the serpent’s deception eventually led them to believe they could be better than the good God made them! They were already like (not exact) God!

We find this great lie, the greatest ever told, led to sin and guilt, and death. But do not excuse Adam and the Woman’s part in this. They were told the truth. They were given the right information by God. But they chose to ignore it. Sounds familiar? It should because that was the life we lived before coming to faith in Christ Jesus. The result of Adam’s sin was once our inheritance before coming to faith in Christ. Thank God for salvation!!!

However, we must pray for those who are persistent in teaching, listening, and believing lies. Because, even today, people who consider themselves Christian pastors teach and believe the greatest lie ever told. “You are little gods,” “I declare and decree,” “I (You) have authority to . . .,” “Speak it into existence and it will be,” “I rebuke you devil,” and the many other personal declarations that have no sound biblical foundation are all lies founded upon the idea “You will be like God. . .” as if one can achieve deification. And even worse, many listen to them, believe the lie, and live it. They are told what they can gain but not what they will lose in the process. Therefore, we must be persistent in prayer for them and declare the truth of the gospel. Even more, we must defend, contend, stand fast, and preserve the truth of the gospel as we too will come under attack.

IV. Eyes wide open

Genesis 3:6–7 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Eve coveted the fruit. She saw it was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and had the potential for making her wise. Essentially, she believed God had lied to them, as well as Adam, who also ate. This resulted in their eyes being opened. It’s ironic that the serpent deceived them to believe they would gain more insight but that insight led to them finding displeasure in their own nakedness. Their innocence was lost. Their efforts to hide their shame was futile.

Believe it or not, those who believe false narratives often make futile attempts to cover their shame. For example, the prosperity teaching. Name it and claim it they say. God wants you healthy and wealthy they say. But when you don’t have a penny to your name or your body is ate up with disease, its YOUR faith they identify as the cause of your circumstances or condition. The apostle John said this about those enticed by the world: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). There is nothing in this world we should want over our need for Jesus.

Conclusion

We have a Redeemer!