Living as a Christ follower I don't have to remind you that there are so many forces that seek to undermine your faith, the Bible tells us to watch out for the flesh, the world (system), and the Devil. As some who know me know I often like to ponder and understand the roots of things, especially things related to people. As I was reflecting on Genesis 3:1 (where it all started), I was struck by this phrase spoken by the serpent "Indeed, has God said...". The serpent is called crafty which from the translation means prudent or shrewd, this same word is used in other places positively in connection with wisdom. Satan here has a line of thinking (wisdom- endowed with reasoning & using it) that starts with this opening statement. In this short jab like the thrust of a sword Satan comes at all the wisdom of God that brought about Creation and holds it together. Satan attacks the Word of God, "...has God said..." sounds like only a glancing blow of the sword but with further investigation we see that this attack on God's Word is an attack on His very character and nature. Interesting that Satan doesn't start with small talk to lure in the relational Eve, he makes this initial thrust of the sword and like an enemy turned friend he parrots back what God said "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?" Notice though that Satan gives his version which is one that God is really preventing Adam and Eve from eating from any tree, instead of only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We can see several of the enemy's tactics here that we need to be aware of as 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us, "so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan , for we are not ignorant of his schemes." The first thrust of the sword of the Enemy of our souls is to bring a shadow of doubt about God's character and nature, this especially enters in when there are strongholds in our souls that the Lord is bringing healing in. We see throughout Scripture that God's methods and ways with His people changes from person to person and situation to situation. Clearly Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, yet does God always use the same way to bring about a breakthrough. No. One time it might be in personal prayer, or worship, or through another person, through a teaching, or own study of the Word. Back to one of the most important if not the most important realities is that God is good all the time, His nature is at the very heart of our faith. If we do not have a revelation of the goodness of God, we will question every action that we suspect Him taking which really is thinking that lines up with Satan's line of thinking in the garden. Adam and Eve before Satan's entrance experienced and knew intimately the goodness of God because this is how they were taken care of and lived in their relationship with God. It is easy to believe you know God is good until you are in a place of suffering, it is the squeezing grip of suffering which reveals what we really believe deep in our souls. Unfortunately in today's Body of Christ there is a tradition of man that will question the goodness of God by seeking measuring the Word of God by our experience, our knowledge, or the science of the day. The Lord awakened me to this reality when out of the blue, I thought how strange it is that we say "is this the Word of God, am I really who God says I am?" How can I as a finite human being seek to be judge and jury on the very Word of God, faith believes the Word of God as reality. It is amazing to me how easy it is to go down a road of thought which is contrary to God's Word and His goodness, especially when it comes to our identity. I believe there is a parallel between the spiritual realm and the natural, it is interesting that there has been so much identity theft in recent years. It seems the Enemy is overplaying his hand.
As I sensed the Lord leading me to read verses in Romans 8:15&16 I love how The Message version states it, "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa? " I love the simple childlike faith that is displayed, too many times our adult reasoning is really just justification for our doubt and unbelief. How wonderfully disarming for Jesus to invite us to be like little children in Matthew 18:3 & 4, "And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." I love the pictures painted in these two different sets of Scriptures, which I believe are a restoration of the innocence, freedom, and intimacy that Adam & Eve had with God before the Fall. Are you willing to step into that place of sweet trust "What's next, Papa?"
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