Discerning Lies from Truth
By: Kia Stephens
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV)
There are lies that immediately sound like lies and then there are those that closely resemble the truth. In those instances, we have to be able to exercise discernment. This is the only way to identify falsehood and refute it with the truth of God’s Word.
In the book of Genesis 2:16 (NIV), the Lord God commanded Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Here we see God gave Adam a clear command. God explained why He gave the command and he took the time to point out all of the alternative options in the garden that Adam could choose instead.
From a parenting standpoint, God clearly created boundaries and parameters for Adam and Eve to follow. Unfortunately, the breakdown in communication occurred when Satan, in a cunning and sly way, deceived Eve into believing what God said was not true.
This is a lesson for all of us. When thoughts come to us, we should measure their authenticity against God’s Word. We have the luxury of having God’s Word as close as our nearest device if we so choose. All we need to do is read it.
Read: The Journey through Grief – iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women – July 7
He also knew that she would die a spiritual death as well. The serpent did not explain this to Eve because had he done so, the decision of whether or not to obey God would have been an easier no. When we are tempted to disobey God, we too need to weigh all the possible consequences of our actions. What may seem like an okay or harmless decision could have lasting repercussions.
The Serpent sweetened his scheme by tempting Eve with the possibility of becoming like God. He appealed to a secret desire in her heart to be all-knowing. This lets us know that the devil knows us intimately. He can hear our thoughts and use them to impact our decisions.
Once our desires are involved resisting lies becomes that much more difficult. We must discern whether opportunities that are placed before us come from God or are traps set by the enemy. The only way to do this is to immerse ourselves in the word of God. In doing so we can readily recognize when an opportunity is rooted in lies or founded on truth.
