Prologue
In the historical context of the Genesis story there are 48 verses that deal with the consequences of the first temptation and the exodus from Eden which St. Augustine refers as “The Original Sin”. The questions I raise in a novel are the implications of such a story whereby my protagonist is “Human Reasoning”.
What is Satan’s Greatest Lie?
John 8:44
– You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of all lies.”
“Don’t lie to each other.” (Colossians 3:9)
Christians are in warfare against Satan. While it is true that Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, it is also true that Satan never ceases his attack on God’s People. In this warfare, let us look at five of Satan’s greatest lies he uses against people.
GREATEST LIE #1 – GOD WITHHOLDS GOOD THINGS FROM US
- A. Genesis 3:4-5 –“‘You will not surely die, the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
- B. Satan tempts us to believe God’s goodness obligates Him to gratify our desires immediately, and when that does not happen, it is a sign that God does not care about us.
- C. God’s plans are always for out best over the long haul, and not just for the immediate short-term.
GREATEST LIE #2 – TRUST IN THE DEITY OF SELF
- A. Psalm 20:7– “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
- B. Satan always provides a list of alternatives to choose from in place of choosing to trust in God.
- Humanism
- Materialism . . . Things . . . Stuff
- Denominational-ism . . . Religious beliefs and organizations that did not come from God.
- Numbers . . . Satan tempts us to trust in numbers and not God’s provision.
1 Chronicles 21:1
– “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.”
5. Self . . . Self-reliance.
a. Satan wants us to fall victim to the lie of self-reliance.
Philippians 4:19
–“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
b. God-reliance . . . Not self-reliance.
GREATEST LIE #3 – GOD’S PEOPLE WILL NEVER SUFFER
- A. Matthew 16:22-23– “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’”
B. Satan tempts us to believe nothing bad will ever happen to us as Christians. And, if something bad does happen, it is just a further sign that God is not all we believe Him to be.” Satan would have us believe that.
- C. Satan’s lie sows self-pity that blooms into bitterness of heart.
1. How thankful we should be for the Book of Job.
2. Romans 8:28
– “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
GREATEST LIE #4 – MONEY BRINGS HAPPINESS
- A. Matthew 4:8-9– “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.’”
- B. Greed will take our eyes off God.
- C. Listening to Satan will short-circuit God’s plan for us.
1. Malachi 3:10
– “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
2. God will provide things for us . . . But things will not provide God for us!
GREATEST LIE #5 – FORGIVENESS IS IMPOSSIBLE
- A. Corinthians 2:7, 11– “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
- B. Refusal to forgive invites bitterness into our hearts.
- C. Unable to forgive divides people and kills fellowship.
- D. The road to forgiveness begins with remembering how much we’ve been forgiven.
- E. In order to reach Heaven, not only must we be forgiven by God . . . But we must also forgive others.
Mark 11:25-26
– “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
John 8:32
– “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
resources to ponder:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2tb3.htm
http://www.leighb.com/genesis.htm
https://global.oup.com/obso/focus/focus_on_genesis1/
http://www.michaelsheiser.com/TheNakedBible/HaselGen1ANE.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Da_Vinci_Code
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost
The Trial of Human Reason
3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Temptation in the garden
The seductive lies that are told
Forever turning us away
Now forever wearing the blindfold
How can it be?
We turned away and now rely on what is fallible
Breaking the covenant
To trust on oneself, is truth now intangible?
The serpent’s deception
A fools path for amity
Free will determines our fate
A masterstroke for calamity
If you were to believe
Evil does not exist
Another problem to consider
Another problem to dismiss
What do we value?
Philosophy and logic?
Are they our absolution?
Are they anagogic?
The argument for freedom
Comes in many different shades
Can we lay down a trump card?
Can we lay down our ace of spades?
Consider the reasons we argue?
Consider why we fight?
The need to know?
The need to be right?
Understanding is fundamental
Understanding is our largest drive
Where do we turn for answers?
Is it truth or is it contrived?
The trial of human reason
Forever in debate
Is this our undoing?
Is this our checkmate?
DCG
The indictment of human reason
The exoneration of human reasoning
THE SENTENCING OF HUMAN REASONING