I Stood at the Tree and Believed the Lie – Now What?

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I believed the lie.

Like Eve—I stood before the tree and listened.

“God’s holding out on you.”

Have you listened to the lie too?

It’s the enemy’s favorite…

You’ve waited so long…
“God’s holding out on you.”

You’ve wanted so much…
“God’s holding out on you.”

You’ve needed so desperately…
“God’s holding out on you.”

You’ve failed again…
“God’s holding out on you.”

Yes, I believed the lie that led to more lies. And like Eve, I not only listened and believed . . . I acted.

Have you noticed how one lie often leads to another?

“God’s holding out on you,” leads to

“God helps those who help themselves.”
“God wants you happy, you just need to…”
“It’s not a sin, so it must be okay for me.”
“Everyone else is doing it or has it.”

 Unlike Eve I didn’t see the consequences right away. Everything seemed good; so good I started believing those other lies were true as well.

Until…

It all fell apart.

It’s easy to blame Adam and Eve for the mess in our world. But the truth is, we’ve all stood at the tree. We’ve all heard the lie. And at one time or another we’ve all grabbed that fruit and taken a bite.

Sometimes the consequences are life changing and sometimes they’re so subtle we almost think we’ve gotten away with something.

But either way, the promise stands…

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15

Better yet, the promise has been fulfilled…

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

You and I are loved.

God loved Adam and Eve so much that He gave them the promise, and set the plan in motion. He loves you and me no less. The promise and its fulfillment are for you and me as well.

But like Adam and Eve – the consequences remained.

I don’t share the details of my story because there are other people involved. I also don’t want us to get lost in the story.

Paul talked about “a thorn in the flesh.” Something he said was given, “to keep me from becoming proud.” And because we don’t know exactly what it was, almost everyone can see themselves in his story.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 2 Corinthians 12:7

Paul’s thorn in the flesh was not of his doing as far as we know, but the answer is the same . . . whether we caused the pain, someone else caused it, or it is the result of living in a sinful world. The answer is always grace.

The Lord replied, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Grace is always the answer. Grace loves. Grace forgives. Grace heals hurting hearts. Grace gives strength and hope. Grace—God’s undeserved gift saves us.

[Tweet “The eternal plan set in motion in the garden is still at work.”]

God saved me through His grace. He will save you too. Whatever you’re facing. Whatever your “thorn” or consequence God’s grace is enough. The eternal plan set in motion in the garden is still at work. The promise fulfilled and the victory won is able to give us hope for the future.

The next time you and I find ourselves standing in front of the tree listening to the lie may we remember sufficient grace.

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