Did God say?
And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
Isn’t it amazing how quickly people who profess to be Christians will abandon God’s commands when it conflicts with their personal beliefs? Eve was in the garden of Eden when Satan sought her out and asked her, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Eve’s response was to add to what God had told them. God told Adam, “From any tree of the garden you may surely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it; for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die (Gen. 2:16).” Satan told Eve that she would not die but would be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil. Eve decided to trust Satan instead of God. When we give in to temptation or decide that God’s word is not true, we are listening to Satan.
I have known individuals who claim to be believers but have denied God’s Word when it interferes with their beliefs. One of the clearest examples is the role of women in the church. According to Barna, 62 percent of practicing Christians think it is ok for a woman to be a pastor, and 79 percent of the general population think it is ok. However, that is in direct conflict with what God has to say. Paul wrote, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet (1 Tim.2:12).” People will say that God never meant it for the modern church and that it was just applicable to the 1st-century church. However, God addressed that when Paul continued to write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into trespass.” You can hear Satan whispering, “Indeed, has God said.”
Be careful, Christian, when you start to make God’s Word arbitrary and decide to believe what you want and disregard what interferes with your feelings.
Your shepherd,
Pastor Mark
Leave a Reply