The Start of Man’s Misery
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may
eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:2
Read Genesis 3:1-3
The total number of chapters in the Bible is 1189. Of that great sum, there
are only four in which the relationship between God and man is perfect and
good. They are the opening two chapters of Genesis and the final two chapters
of Revelation. Between those chapters we are given history, psalms and
prophecies, in which we are constantly confronted with the truth that we
are sinners.
How did this drastic change come about? This is revealed in Genesis 3, a
chapter to which we must turn again and again to remind us of what man
has become by listening to the devil. This truth must also be addressed regularly
in preaching to confront us with our deep fall.
As we have already mentioned, sin came into the world when Adam and Eve
listened to the devil. In fact, it is more serious than this. Simply conversing
with him is very dangerous! He is a subtle and very intelligent enemy. Moreover,
he has thousands of years of experience!
It is very beneficial to look at how the Lord Jesus acted when He was placed
in a similar position to Eve. The devil challenged the Lord after He had fasted
for forty days in the wilderness, but each time the Saviour wielded the
sword of the Spirit, God’s own Word. It is written was the weapon Christ
used, and it effectively laid aside Satan’s attacks (Matt. 4:1-11). In this way,
what we read in James 4:7 becomes a reality, “Resist the devil and he will
flee from you.”
Question: Are you familiar enough with the sword of the Spirit so that you
can use it?
Psalter 428:3 (based on Psalm 119)
O Lord, how shall a youth preserve his way,
At every turn by vanity surrounded?
In truth, if he Thy statues will obey,
If on Thy Word his attitudes are founded.
Thou Whom I’ve sought, O let me never stray
From Thy commandments, lest I be confounded.
