The Great Lie, Perpetuated!
By Elder Brian Moore
The book of Genesis is known as the book of beginnings. In this book of beginnings we are told about the beginning of time, the beginning of the earth and the heavens, the beginning of man and the beginning of sin and death. In the third chapter we witness the subtle approach of the serpent and the first lie that was ever told. It is this great lie that I would like to direct the remainder of this article.
The book of Genesis teaches us that the serpent, was more subtle, than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. This subtleness can be seen in the doubt- creating question that he first asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The simple phrasing of his question not only required Eve to doubt what she had been told, but even more so it questioned the authority of almighty God. This, doubt, is one of the more cunning devices of the devil and it can be seen everywhere today, in schools and institutions across this country and throughout the world. Today, professors and educators everywhere are challenging the authority of the bible and denying the existence of God. They do this by simply creating doubt in the manipulative minds of their students, this is done by asking two simple questions “yea, hath God said?” or is there really a God? Therefore, it becomes rather obvious that the questioning of God’s existence and authority did not end in the garden, but rather endures unto this day.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1
The book of Genesis also permits us to witness the first lie that was ever told. This lie is as old as time itself and has been perpetuated by many of the same who question or deny the authority of God. In Genesis 3:4,5 we read “and the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat therof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”(emphasis mine) It is important to note that the serpent simply added the word “not” and immediately became a corruptor of God’s word. He then goes on to suggest that instead of dying that their eyes would instead be opened and that they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. Although, this great lie was told back in the garden, it too is still being advocated today among modern religionist. The air waves are inundated daily with the same message, it can be seen on television stations and heard in pulpits around the world, “ye shall be as gods.” Although, the wording isn’t exactly the same the message is still intact.
These false teachers tell untold millions what they have to do to get eternal life. According to their message, the power to give and grant eternal life lies in the hands of the individual and God is merely a passive eternal being who anxiously awaits your decision. The delivery may be different but the message is the same “ye shall be as gods!” These messages are just as clever and cunning as the one the serpent told in the garden. The soft- spoken subtlety of their message puts man in the position of God and places God in the position of man. For example, some argue that Jesus Christ is offering mankind salvation, but the bible teaches that the offering was made to God the father. By telling people that the offering is made to them, they are trying to put puny man in the position of God Almighty. Some will insist that Jesus Christ is knocking on your hearts door and that if you only will let him in you may have eternal life. The bible teaches that the Lord himself is the door, therefore when these false teachers suggest that you are the door, they are merely putting man in the position of God Himself. Some conditionalist argue that all you have to do is be baptized, quote a sinners prayer, answer an alter call or perform some other duty. Yet the bible teaches plainly that salvation is by grace and not by works of the flesh. To imply to anyone that their duty/works will cause them to have eternal life, is the same as saying “you can be as a god and give yourself eternal life.” Although it is presented in many different ways, is this not the same thing that the serpent told Eve in the garden? Which goes to prove that the great lie is still being told today.
12/13/07
