“Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.” Psalm 115:8.

Bible has a lot to say about trust. Who or what we trust is very important to the living and creator God. Yesterday and the day before yesterday we talked about those who trust in man and the princes of men. Today we will learn briefly what the Bible says about those who trust in idols.

Bible says those who make the idols will become like them. The preceding context says these about the idols. “They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, they have feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.”

Isaiah 42:17 says, “But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.” Those who make and trust in idols as their God will become insensitive to spiritual truths. They remain dead in their spirits. Secondly, they will be turned back in utter shame. Because knowingly or unknowingly, they end up in the displeasure of God.

The first two commandments out of the ten commandments reveal the displeasure of the living and creator God toward making and worshiping idols. (Exodus 20:3-4). The Israelites were delivered from Egypt, which had an idol worship system in the land, by the one true living and creator God. Therefore it was important to give this command to them as the first out of ten commandments. It is applicable to all of us as the LORD God is the creator of all and the ten commandments reveal the will of God which  must be kept in our hearts.

The first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (20:3). Beloved, did you notice ‘other gods’ in small ‘g’ and ‘Me’ in capital ‘M’ in the first commandment cited above. The other gods-physical idols or mental images-are not the ‘true God’. The idols would never represent the truth and glory of God. Idols and images always degrade/hide the full truth and glory of God. No idol or image can ever represent the creator, living, and glorious God. This is why the use of idols in worship and services is prohibited by the first two commandments of the ten commandments.

There is only one God who created the heavens and earth and everything in it. He made our first parents according to His own likeness, uniquely different from the animal world. The creator and living God is eternal from everlasting to everlasting. He is not part of the creation. He is out of creation because he caused and created the universe around us. This is why it said ‘you shall have no other gods before Me.”

Now the Second commandment (vs.4) explains in detail and say, “you shall not make for yourself an idol, or like likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” You see the first and second commandments strictly prohibit having any other gods or making of any idols or images to remember or worship God. It also says the reason before and after –You shall have no other gods Before Me because there is no other true God. Then it says bad consequences of idol making and using them for worship. It says, “for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

I have heard people saying an idol or image in front of me helps to focus my attention to worship God. However, the question is how can you disobey the first and second commandments which clearly with no shadow of doubt forbid and disallow making/using idols and images for worship and services? It is a matter of trust, doesn’t it? Can you still worship and serve the living God in faith without disobeying the first and second commandments. I believe it is possible. It is left to us to make that choice based on the two commandments in front of us. When we think about it-do we really need idols and images-physical idols or mental images-to praise and worship God?

Listen to what Moses said to them. He said referring to the incident of the living God giving them commandments from the mount of Sinai. He said,  “Then the LORD spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form-only a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:12.  Then verse 15 says, “ So watch yourselves carefully since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, lest you corruptly make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female.”

In other words, our trust must be on God and His promises/ words recorded in the Scripture. We must not transfer our trust to man-made or mental images. When we use idols or images, to a certain extent, we truly trust that figure representing the truth about God. However, no idols/images can represent the whole truth and glory of God. Our allegiance and trust, like Moses, said must be only on the voice of the LORD which is faithfully recorded in the pages of the Bible. Listen, when the commandment was given, they heard only a voice –the word of God. They have not seen any form –but only heard a voice from the LORD. The LORD’s voice is fully and faithfully recorded now in the Bible. May we trust His word and promises faithfully recorded for us, not forms, idols, or images?

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47 (b). NKJV.

The church is God’s new community He builds, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone,  and the 12 apostles and early prophets as the foundation of the edifice. The new community is called fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household. (Ephesians 2:19(b). They are no more foreigners and strangers. (Ephesians 2:11 &19). They are heirs of all God has along and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Romans 8:17).They are the children of God (Romans 8:16) born again into God’s household as a result of the adoption to Son-ship through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). God predestined, chosen, and adapted them according to His eternal covenant (Hebrews 13:20) made within the triune Godhead (the counsel of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). This is different from the old community they are born and grown-up, the community of Adam.

The Bible says Christ as the builder and he is the only one who adds people into his community. The way Jesus Christ adds people to his community called the church is by saving people from their sins.  The name Jesus means “he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Christ is the title of Jesus –the chosen one, the anointed one, the messiah of God. In other words, those who are transferred from the kingdom of darkness and devil to the kingdom of God’s Son, Jesus Christ are the members of the new community called the church. The moment a person accepts the Lord Jesus as their savior, he or she is placed in this God’s community called the church by Lord Jesus Christ.

Now once they are in the community by their professed faith in the salvific work of Jesus Christ, they develop certain lifestyle characteristics by divine empowerment. These characteristics are listed in verse 42 of the same chapter. They devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching (ongoing systematic Bible studies), fellowship (being with other believers), breaking bread (which is one of the two sacraments the Lord Jesus instituted for the community called the church, the second being the water baptism), praise and thanksgiving and prayer.

I would say these are the strong pillars on which the spiritual edifice called the church, the community of God stands strong. Bible studies, fellowship with one another, obedience to the water baptism, observance of Lord’s supper (to remember Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for their sake, which He commanded to remember –Luke 22:17-20), praising and giving thanks to God (vs. 47) and prayer. Anyone of these areas lacks, the community could suffer loss. All are essential and interconnected to each other for the building up of the church.

Beloved, this community is also an eschatological community. It is not just a temporal one. It has a present and future aspect. Even though God called them to be part of His kingdom now and here, the current aspect of the kingdom is not complete without the future. God called them to reign with Him in His kingdom which would consummate at the return of Christ to establish the literal kingdom which was promised in the old testament scriptures. There were more than 300 prophecies fulfilled at the first coming of Christ to die for our sins. The Bible gives three times more prophecies regarding the second coming of Christ to fulfill the eschatological promises. It means if the first advent is fulfilled literally, the second advent and the establishment of the eschatological kingdom are three times certain.

“Father in heaven, I want to be in the new community you are building up by Christ being the chief corner stone. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord because I believe He died for my sins, buried and rose again. I want to study the Bible, have fellowship with true people of God, break bread, praise you and live a life of prayer anticipating the fulfillment of your eschatological promises you made in your eternal covenant by the blood of Christ. I thank you for accepting me in your household as your child. In Christ’s name I  pray. Amen.”

“His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven.” Colossians 1:14 (GW).

Suppose that unexpected and horrible day finally appeared in your life.  The one who hated you all through your life came, captured, and placed you in bondage. There you are within the four walls in a dungeon. No way to escape from there. One day a rich man came and paid the ransom the enemy asked and rescued you from the bondage and let you go free in his love and mercy toward you. How would you feel?

Let me give you another example. Suppose you have many debts-credit cards, personal loans, collateral loans, and so forth. You never wanted to become a debtor. However, in your harsh life circumstances you ended up borrowing. Now the institution comes against you with their legal right to get all the debt from you. But you do not have the means to pay for it. At the pain-filled and fearful time, a rich man appeared knowing your sadness and fear and paid all your debts and made you free from its bondage and consequences. How would you feel?

The Bible says the biggest debt we ever owed was not to the bank or other people. It is the debt of sin we owed to our creator God who is just and holy. He gave us the perfect law to obey when we live on his earth. We were not able to obey all of his laws due to the sin nature we all inherited from our first parents –Adam and Eve. All the charges of sin, disobedience, and disrespect were listed against us. Just and holy God can not ignore the list that was against us. All the things we should have done but somehow omitted to do were also listed. However, the Bible says the Son of God, Jesus Christ, took all those charges against you away from you and placed that horrible list that was against you on the cross and nailed it to the cross along with him. In short, His Son (God’s Son- Jesus) paid the price for us on that cruel cross to make us free from all of it.

You see, the Bible says, “through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness.” Ephesians 1:7 (GW). God did it for you in Jesus Christ.

Are you heavy laden with the debt you owe to the holy and just God? Would you agree that you are a sinner because the Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”? Then God in his kindness, mercy, and forgiveness reveals and displays to you the way out from all your debts, however bad it may be. Bible promises, “the blood of Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all our sins.” 1st John 1:7

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Heavenly Father, I accept I am a sinner and I believe Your Son, Jesus Christ paid the price to free me from it. He died on the cross for me, buried, and rose again victoriously by paying for it all. Please forgive me and save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43.

When Jesus was on the cross carrying humanity’s sin and its punishment on his body, two criminals were also crucified on each side of him. The criminal on the one side insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 

However, the other criminal rebuked and said, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Do you know how Jesus replied? It is a noteworthy statement from the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” New King James Version translated this, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

People often ask this question- How would I ever now I am saved? Alternatively, if you ask the question are you sure you would go to heaven if you die, many people would respond by saying, I am not

sure or I hope so. You see they are not sure if they are saved. No assurance if they would go to heaven when they die. 

Our today’s insight settles this question of your heart. You see, this man on the cross knew he was punished justly and fairly for the crimes he committed. However, He also knew Jesus has done nothing wrong to be crucified along with them. Maybe he heard about Jesus, his miracles, and preaching before. You see he did not ask to alieve his pain or save him from the cross, even though he knew Jesus has the power to do it. Only a small sentence he said, “Remember me why you come into your kingdom.” He knew Jesus would come in His kingdom. He understood Jesus is the savior of the criminals and sinners. Therefore, he said “remember me.” 

You see that small request was filled with faith and hope in Jesus. He believed Jesus is on the cross with the same suffering, but he did nothing wrong. He knew Jesus loves him and can save even a criminal like him. He committed his future and eternity in the safe hand of Jesus. By understanding his belief and trust in Him, Jesus said, “Today you will be with Me in paradise. No more requirements- based on his belief and trust in Jesus, He got the assurance of eternal life in heaven from the lips of Jesus.

My friend, how about you? What are you waiting for? Whatever condition you find yourself in now, pray to Jesus to remember you and save you. He will save you right away. Not tomorrow, not in the future, not based on your good works or backgrounds. But based on your simple belief and request. This is how you would get saved. This is how you get the assurance of eternal life in death after death.

Bible says your salvation is not based on your feelings. It is based on the word of God. Bible says, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

Got a moment for today’s prayer? 

“Father heaven, I believe Jesus is my savior and he died in my place for my sins. I accept him as my savior and Lord. Please save me and grant eternal life. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.”

“Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him. It was you, not your children, who had these experiences.” Deuteronomy 11:2.

The experiences and learning you have received are very unique to you. Those are the things you have learned about the Lord through your life experiences. Your friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors, and even your children do not have what you learned in life. Bible says God led and guided you in a unique way. Your journey is different from others.

Moses said in Deuteronomy 8:2- Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years. He humbled you and tested you as well. Therefore remember all the way he led you in your life. Not only just the high and successful times, but also your failures, the time he humbled you, tested you, punished you. Remember all. 

Take a minute and remember what God taught you through it all. Take some time to reflect and then if possible write it down. The good and bad experiences of life, the opportunities God granted uniquely to you in his sovereign will, the way you led you and delivered you. The way you failed. The time he tested and disciple you. Reflect all. 

You see, God had custom made experiences for your life and only you know the depth and width of it. In short, you are a living and walking Wikipedia of experiences with God and actions in your life.

Now, what are you going to do with it? First, you remember, recollect, rehearse your personal experiences. Second, you talk and share those rich experiences. You can even write a book about it. You share those experiences with faithful and reliable people who would be competent to share and teach others. 

Beloved, remember what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 2:2? He said to Timothy, “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” Of course, the Bible is already completed and finished and you would not add to it. (Revelation 22:18-19). However, there is someone out there who would like to hear your experiences and stories by which they would be edified and built up. This is exactly what God wants you to do.

Now if you are in a special season of your life, ask these questions. 

• What can I learn now through what God gave to me this time of my life?
• What God wants me to do now in my current circumstance of life.
• How can I help others who may want to hear my story of this season in the future? 
• Will I come out of this season successfully with God’s help?
• To come out successfully what are the things I must do?

 

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for the unique and varied experiences you gave me in my life. At certain times I was successful. Certain other times I failed. However, through it all, I learned more about you and your unchanging character. I have much to share and teach others with my rich experiences with you. Help me to do it faithfully so that I could become a helping, comforting, encouraging hand to someone in this world who really needs to hear your voice.  In the name of Jesus Christ, I  pray. Amen.” 

The matter of ‘first importance’.

“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1st Corinthians 15:3)

Many people have only hearsay about the gospel or good news. They only have a vague idea about the term. What is the Gospel? Different people may give different interpretations of the word, ‘gospel’. Apostle Paul writes in verse 1 of this chapter this is “the gospel which I preached to you.’ Gospel in a short sentence is our today’s insight and it defines the concept of gospel.

The term gospel has four important ingredients.

First, Christ died for our sins. ‘Christ’ means the ‘chosen’, the ‘anointed’, the ‘messiah’, and the ‘promised deliverer.’ It is not just someone died for a good cause. It was the chosen, anointed, the messiah, the promised deliverer who died according to the eternal plan of God. The title ‘chosen one’ takes us to the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies and promises God made for the deliverance of the people from the first book called Genesis to the last book in the old testament scriptures called Malachi.

The eternal Son of God, who is ‘the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8) became a man within the restrictions of time to fulfill the Father’s eternal plan for our salvation. In His incarnation, the second person of the triune God (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) took the name of Jesus because “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, Psalm 130:8 and Matthew 20:28). This is why say Jesus is Christ-Jesus Christ.

Second, “according to the Scriptures”. There were more than 300 prophecies literally fulfilled regarding the first coming of Christ into this world. If you want more detailed information please refer to the ‘study Bible’ tab on this website (https://www.teachbible.org/prophecies-fulfilled-christ-jesus/) for more details bout Christ’s place of birth, the manner of birth, his ministry on this earth, sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection. All these were prophecied in the old testament scriptures hundreds of years before His birth.

Thirdly, Christ was buried. The burial of a dead body is the confirmation and seal of the death of a person. Christ truly died and as a stamp of the approval of his death, he was buried visible to people’s eyes (both Dr. Luke who investigated all the matters regarding Jesus wrote about the life of Jesus in an orderly fashion and recorded his death and burial as well when he presented his report to ‘excellent Theophilus’ (Luke 1:4) along with all other writers of the Gospel (Luke 23:50-55, Mark 15:44-47, Matthew 27:57-66 and John 19:38-42).

Fourthly, Christ was raised from death. Immediately after today’s Bible verse in 5-9, Paul gives us a list of people who witnessed Christ after his resurrection. He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to all the twelve disciples. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time. Paul wrote most of them were living at the time he wrote 1st Corinthians. Then He appeared to James, then again to all the apostles and last of all those people mentioned above, Christ appeared to Paul who used to be a zealous Jew, a murderer, and persecutor of Christ and His believers. 

Paul when questioned by king Agrippa announced this statement. Listen to what Paul said, “ And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!” Acts 26:26. 

You see the gospel –the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s chosen one (Christ) for our sins did not happen in a corner of the world. The gospel-the death, burial, resurrection of Christ-was according to the Scriptures of the old testament. Bible says God displayed Christ publicly as a propitiation/satisfaction in His blood through our faith and trust in Him. Romans 3:25.

Did you notice today’s insights remind Gospel is delivered to people as of ‘first importance’? Why it is ‘first importance’? Listen: the universality of human death by the consequence of the sin is the centrality of human fears. Gospel (the good news) –the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ according to the Scriptures gives a permanent solution to the misery of human death. Christ was the first fruit raised from the dead. (15:20). The first fruit gives anticipation and assurance for more similar fruits. Christ is the first fruit from the dead and after that, those are Christ’s, each in his own order. (15:23).

Beloved, is not Gospel the ‘first importance’? Yes, it is. It guarantees forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life by your faith and trust in what God had done for you in Christ. It is the first importance to humanity.  

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe You sent Your one and only Son, for my sins, according to your eternal plan. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins, save and grant me eternal life. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked.” Genesis 3:7 (a).

Last few days we were looking at the origins recorded in the Bible. The first book of the Bible the book of Genesis- is the book of ‘origins’. We have seen how it all began. Now two days, our insight focuses on how evil began on this planet earth.

Do you remember a time when you believed in a promise only to regret deeply because the promise was never met, but something completely different was delivered to you? How do you feel? Terrible, sad, and frustrated right? This is what happened to our first parents on that day when everything changed around them.

The promise was if they eat from the forbidden tree, they would become like God. Pretty lofty promise. Secondly, they would not die although God said so. Thirdly, God hides good things from them. Hooked to the temptation, Eve ate it and also gave to her husband who was standing next to her listening to all the false promises of the serpent. He ate it as well. Adam should have known better because God gave the command directly to him. Eve only heard from Adam. As the first recipient, Adam should have stood on his ground firmly and stopped her by reminding God’s word. He did not. This is why the Bible later says looking back to the incident in 1st Timothy 2:14, “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Adam knowingly approved the disobedience. The woman was deceived.

Now before we are too harsh on man, let us face the truth. One or another time, we all are faced with occasions like this. Would we act differently? Do we have the courage to stand firm for the word of God? I wanted to ask this question to all men including me.

Now the results flooded in. As soon as they ate, their eyes were opened but the sight was contrary to their expectations. They did not become like God or even wise. Their eyes were opened to see the shame of one another. To know that they do not even like to look at each other. An alienation happened between them. Moreover, an alienation happened between them and God. Evil steps and actions always result in alienation from one another and God. You see their loving relationship with the LORD was affected. Now they are afraid of God. In the past, they cherished God’s presence and love. Now they hid from God.

Beloved, if nothing else we learned from this incident of our first parent, we must learn this-Satan promises lies and he never delivers what he promised. Regret, shame, fear, alienation from people and God would be the consequences.

The LORD God came in the cool of the day as they were hiding and called the name of the man and asked where are you? Adam said I heard your sound, I was afraid because I was naked and hid. When the LORD asked, “have you ate from the tree that I commanded not to eat from?” There started passing the buck. Adam blamed Eve, Eve said she was deceived by the serpent. Instead of friendliness and agreement, all were alienated from each other. Alienation from God, alienation from one another, and alienation from other creatures.

Genesis 3:21 says, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” To make garments of skin, an animal must have been killed to get the skin to cover their nakedness. There began the animal sacrifices to cover people’s sins.  However, the LORD God promised a permanent solution to the issue and this is in verse 15. When the LORD brought judgment on the serpent, He said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” The old serpent who is the devil (as we discussed in our previous daily insight) hates the offsprings of Adam. He does whatever it takes to destroy God’s epitome of creation- the human beings who are created in the image of God.

There was a silver line of promise right there amid the judgments. The LORD said to the serpent the seed of the woman will one day crush your (devil’s) head, although he would try to strike the heel of the seed of the woman. This is fulfilled in the promise of the seed of woman prophecy that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is born of the virgin woman by the overshadowing and powerful work of the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus crushed the head of the devil on the cross to save humanity from their sin problem inherited from Adam and Eve. Devil thought he demolished Jesus Christ when he worked in the hearts of the leaders and people to crucify him. God turned the table. Jesus was buried in a new tomb in Jerusalem. However, He rose on the third day as he was promised by giving victory over sin and death.

Beloved, Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises God made for Adam’s posterity and the only savior of Adam’s children. All the animal sacrifices were a shadow of the final fulfillment of the perfect sacrifice by Jesus Christ. “The blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all our sins” 1st John 1:7. Praise God! He did not leave Adam’s children in a pathetic condition. God promised victory over the devil and He fulfilled and accomplished it in person and work of the seed of the woman- Jesus Christ.

“Father in heaven, I thank you for your kindness in finding a permanent solution for humanity’s problem of sin. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord because I believe He died in my place for all of my sins. Lord, Please save and grant me eternal life with you when I close my eyes here in death. In Chris’t’s name, I pray, Amen.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” (Genesis 3:1(a)). And the serpent said to the woman, “you surely shall not die.” Genesis 3:4.

Did you ever stop and think why people are enticed to do what can harm them? We want to hang around with things and places that God restricts. Why do we do it? Let us talk about it.  Basically, it is the result of the thought that although we like God, we also suspect God keeps something good or joyful things from us. Yet Bible says, “For God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.” (Psalm 84:11)

Yesterday we talked about the ‘origins’ faithfully recorded in the first book of the Bible called Genesis. Today we will discover what went wrong with our first parents. 

You see, Genesis chapter 3 begins with a statement that the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. This informs the serpent was a real animal.

However, the Bible says in Revelation 20:2 “he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of the old, who is the devil and Satan..” Revelation 12:9 says, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world”. Therefore the serpent in chapter 3 was more than just an animal. With no doubt, the animal was under the control of Satan when it came to our first parents. 

Jesus said about this old deception of the devil. He said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.” John 8:44(b). 2nd Corinthians 11:3 Paul says, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted…”

Genesis 3 gives the pattern of Satan of the devil’s deception. You see, he still has the same pattern for deception.

First, he questioned God’s word. He asked, “Indeed, has God said, “you shall not eat from any tree of the garden.” This was a cunning question to figure out how much Eve knows about God’s command. The problem was Eve had only second-hand knowledge about God’s command due to the fact that God gave the command directly to Adam and said, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you shall surely die.”(2:15-17). 

God gave lavish freedom to eat from all the trees except the one. However, the serpent rephrased it to bring to spotlight the restriction of God. Do you see how important to know the word of God accurately to stand against the evil schemes of Satan? Now when Eve quoted the command of God, she added more restrictions than God originally said. She added, “you shall not eat from it or touch it.” God did not say ‘do not touch it.” May be Adam admonished her do not touch it to restrict her from the forbidden tree. 

Second, Satan contradicts the word of God with a flat lie. The serpent said to her, “you surely shall not die.” (3:4) It was a clear contradiction to God’s word and a lie. 

Thirdly, the serpent also questioned the good intention of the LORD (3:5). God restricted to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for the benefit of them like a human parent would do. Being the loving creator, he knew what was good and beneficial for them. The true source of the knowledge of good and evil is the creator of Lord God Himself. They did not need another source for wisdom and knowledge. Now after a straight lie and questioning the good and loving intention of the LORD, Eve was tempted to disobey the command. The reasons were three- woman saw the tree was good for food, it was a delight to the eyes, desirable to make one wise. (3:6). Here are the three basic lusts-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. (1st John 2:16). The forbidden tree appealed to the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eyes, and the imagination than she can become wise like God. (a matter of pride). These three still entice us to disobey God.

You see, God’s word was questioned. God’s word was contradicted and challenged by a lie. God’s good, paternal and loving restriction was misinterpreted by the serpent and misjudged by them. God’s word and His character were under attack and succumbing to the craftiness and deception, our first parents fell to sin and disobeyed God. Remember Jesus said Satan is the liar and father of liars. (John 8:44(d). 

Next time when you are tempted to disobey God’s loving restrictions as your creator and perfect parent, stop and remember what went wrong with our first parents that resulted in lasting consequences for their posterity –you and I. Stop and study chapter 3 of the book of Genesis and understand how evil entered into humanity. There God faithfully recorded what we all should know about us. 

Even though spiritual and physical death entered into human beings by their folly act of disobedience to God’s command, the loving LORD came with an excellent solution. We will discuss this later in another insight.

“Father in heaven, help me to study the Bible you gave to me for my wellbeing and benefits. I know there are deceptions around me. I need wisdom and knowledge. The true source of wisdom and knowledge is you. The honor of the LORD God is the beginning of all wisdom. Help me to honor you and your word. May I spent my life in reading and understanding the Bible, which is the sword of the spirit to guard me against the wiles of the devil. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Do you know you can track the origins?

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

People generally want to know their origins. “A family tree is a diagram showing the relationships between people in several generations of a family; a genealogical tree.” The idea became popular in recent years.

The family trees are created so that people can figure out the origins of their ancestors. How did it all begin is a curious and thrilling search with high rewarding potentials.

When it comes to your search for the origins, no other book on this planet stands compared to the Scripture called the Bible. It alone accurately report the origins. The first book of the Bible called Genesis would satisfy your thirst and hunger for the truth of the origins.

Beloved, God wants you to know how did it all begin. He wants to communicate the truth of origins to all people who want to know. You see, the Bible is not originated here on the earth but came from heaven-God breathed (2nd Timothy 3:16) and God-inspired servants wrote it when they were carried along by the Holy Spirit of God. (2nd Peter 1:21).

Genesis, the first book of the Bible gives a truthful account of the creation of the earth and time. It also says how the earth was before its creation. (Genesis 1:2). It gives an account of the creation of the whole universe including the heavens, the solar system that includes sun, moon, and stars. It says how the plants, animals, and creatures were created along with a detailed report about how man and woman were created and why there is a clear distinction between human beings and other creatures. (Genesis chapter 1:27).

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, also reports the origin of marriage and family. (Genesis 2:18-25). It reveals the parties God intended to be in the marriage relationship. It says God saw it is not good for the man to be alone. He said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.” (2:18). Adam was amazed at the beauty of the woman God made for him. Adam called her woman because she was taken out of man. Adam also said she is his own -bone of bone and flesh of flesh. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (2:23-24).

We see evil things happening to people in our newspapers and TV channels. Genesis accounts for the entrance of evil into the life of human beings (Genesis 3) and although it was sad that evil entered into this earth, it says how God would be triumphant over the evil. It says how He would conquer the evil entered and spread around the world. The solution of evil is capsulated with a promise in this book. (3:15). The book describes gives the family tree of the genealogy of people by giving the names of the children of our first parents and down through their children, grandchildren, and so-forth (chapters 2-5). In short, you can meticulously track down the genealogy from Adam in the pages of Genesis if you study the family tree provided in this first book. God shows how sin entered,  and the promise of the seed of the woman would eventually be fulfilled. He tracks the line through whom the promise would be fulfilled in time. The listing of the genealogy is aimed at showing how the promised savior (3:15) would come to this earth through the seed of the woman. (fulfilled in Jesus Christ). Genesis also explains how so many different languages came into being and the institution of the human government. (Chapter 11 and chapter 9:5-6).

Bible, especially the first book-Genesis-is the true source of all origins. If you are curious about the origins, check it out. It has a lot of information about origins. Bible says in Genesis that that man is the epitome of all of his creation on this earth. It says the man was created in the image of God. (1:27). It says in His own image he created man. Besides, it says man is given the role of the vice-regent to rule over all other created beings. (1:28). He was given the responsibility to take care of the land and all it contains faithfully.

“Father in heaven, I thank you that you provided in the Bible what I should I know about my origins. I understand you created the heavens and the earth. I also understood you created mankind in your own image and you created them male and female. Although sin and evil entered into this world you promised a way out of it,  and that way is the way of the savior of the whole world-Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came, died, and rose again for my sins as the fulfillment of the promise given in Genesis 3:15. I accept Him as my savior. Please save me and help me to know more about you and your works in the pages of the Bible. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace.” Proverbs 11:2

C.S. Lewis said, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you .” Andrew Murray said, “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”

Bible has much to talk about the dangers of pride. The first sin originated in the universe was nothing other than pride.

The Bible speaks about this in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14:12-18. The pride of Lucifer who was the signet of perfection. He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Every precious stone covered him, the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, carbuncle and crafted in gold. He was the anointed guardian cherub. He was in the holy mountain of God. As a worship leader, he was all musical instruments in himself. However, his heart became proud because of his beauty, wisdom, and splendor. Due to pride in his heart, he said he would ascend to heaven and set his throne on high and would make himself like the Most High God. God punished him and brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. The dangerous pride entered into the heart of Lucifer. It caused him much. God threw him down, and he became the devil, and a group of his loyal angels followed him, and they became the demons. Here is the beginning of the devil and demons, the Bible reveals. As the Vietnamese (on pride) saying, “The higher you climb, the heavier you fall” was true of him.  

Then the devil was in the garden of Eden pumping pride into our first parent’s hearts. He said they could become like God. As he injected pride into their hearts, the first parents and their posterity fell in sin.

He still pumps pride into people’s hearts and leads them to destruction, doesn’t he?

As I alluded before, the Bible has much to talk about pride. Listen to some of the warnings of this grievous sin that God hates.

“ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).

“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23).

“I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech.” (Proverbs 8:13)

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

“The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:21)

“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:12).

Beloved, the Bible uses strong languages against pride. Why? It elevates self and dishonors God. God hates it. Do you know God becomes an enemy of a prideful person, because the Bible says God opposes the proud and arrogant people? (James 4:6). God looks for humility and humbleness to provide His wonderful grace, mercy, and blessings lavishly. 1 Peter 5 instructs to clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, just because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Then it says Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. God stands opposed to pride-filled talk and actions. However, if one humble ourselves and long for His grace and mercy, He lavishes these and exalts because he cares for the humble.

In today’s culture around us, we daily witness pride and arrogance. Prideful talk, prideful look, prideful talk, prideful lifestyles. Devil injects pride in people because he wants to get as many people in his group and drive them to eternal hell which God had already prepared for Him. He knew his future is in hell and he wants to get as many people with him on the way.

Beloved, pride comes at a high cost. Pride prevent a man to acknowledge God, admit their sins and wrongdoings, and thus becomes impossible to receive the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. Pride destroys families, friendships, business, and businesses on an everyday basis. Beloved, choose humility and grace instead of pride. God offers forgiveness, mercy, and love in and through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died, buried, and risen again for all of our sins. Shake off the pride and choose God’s grace and mercy in humility. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for talking to me today. Please forgive my pride and arrogance that prevented God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, and blessings. I humble myself and honor you, God. I accept Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried, and risen again for my sins. Please save me today and make me a new creation in Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”