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God created His
natural world as recorded in Genesis 1. He had made man in His own image. In
the next chapter God created a companion for man. The man God called Adam,
and his wife He named Eve (Genesis 2). God put both of them under a
prohibition (Genesis 2:16, 17).
In Genesis 3 the
devil entered the paradise God made for man, and he tempted Eve to eat of
the prohibited fruit. When she saw the fruit, it pleased her eye and was
delicious. She believed the devil when he told her it would make her wise.
She ate of the fruit and gave to Adam and he also ate of it (Genesis 3:1-6).
When God came
calling on His first couple they tried to hide from Him. They were ashamed
to let God see them naked. No one has been able to hide from God. See Psalms
139:7-12. Even the thoughts of our hearts are known to God (Genesis 6:5).
See also Hebrews 4:12 in the New Testament.
The devil has
tried to defeat God’s purposes throughout history. He even tried to tempt
Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus never responded to the devil then, or
at any time (Hebrews 4:14,15).
When we
become servants of God the devil tries to lure us back to him. We must learn
to resist the devil as Jesus did (James 4:7). We will stumble (James 3:2)
but we do not surrender. When we sin (1 John 1:8), if we confess them to God
(1 John 1:9) and pray (Acts 8:22) then God will forgive our sins. With God’s
help we overcome the devil (1 Corinthians 10:13). God knows the devil is
going to compete with Him for our souls. God helps us overcome the devil.
With His help we will win the victory over Satan and sin. Read James 4:8-10.
Harvey
Childress, servant of Jesus Christ |
