Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Adam and Eve had been living a protected and blessed life in the garden of Eden. Eve was used to straight talk with Adam and God. “What is that Adam?” “That is an Elephant.” “What is that God?” “That is the tree of life.” “And that one?” “That is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, do not ever eat from it or you will die.” Gen. 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
I believe the everyday communication Eve had with the Lord and Adam was honest and to the point. Eve was emotionally safe because her conversations had no ambiguity, cynicism, or crassness in it. The communication Eve experienced was clean and pure.
Then the devil came along and lied to Eve and tricked her into mistrusting the integrity of God. The devil said to Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” When defending what someone said it is easy to become emotionally responsive as Eve did. It was an emotional lie Eve fell for and resulted in her wanting something more than God could or would give her at the time. Gen. 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Judas also fell for an emotional lie while walking with Jesus for three years. Judas betrayed Jesus at the last supper. John 13:27a After Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. There was a belief that a Messiah was going to deliver the chosen people from their oppressors. The Lord was trying to save mankind from eternal oppression and death, but Judas was trying to provoke Jesus into saving Israel from Roman oppression. Judas believed the emotional argument the religious leaders put forth. Prov. 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Judas’ emotions were right off the chart. When he realized what he had done, he ended up committing suicide and paid dearly for his sin.
It does not seem to matter how long we have walked with the Lord or have overcome past temptations. There are always new temptations coming along to test us one more time. The sin we take part in that seemed so innocent and even harmless at the time now creeps up our spine with squeezing reptilian thoughts of “What have I done?”
That is always the result of falling into temptation because the emotional lies are always the most disappointing and crushing to our soul. It is so personal. The sin at the time was so titillating and looked to be an ultimate privilege in life, but the results are never satisfying or fulfilling. True enough it was seductive to look at and desire as Eve noted, but not satisfying, as we all found out.
These sinful ideas or desires shout “It will all be good and fun. You will never have a better chance for happiness.” In the end, however, it always leaves us feeling like we were let down so hard our inner man hurts and feels uncomfortably anxious. Rom. 7:11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.
The seemingly harmless sin that looked good a few minutes ago now has a stench of utter disappointment about it and we are not sure what to do with it. We realize what an emotional lie it was that we fell for because our self-satisfying gratification had not been met as promised. Now our emotions are judging our mind and heart with no mercy. Rom. 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Thank God the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ meet our every need and that includes the emotional needs as well. For the salvation of God has cleansed us from all sins of the body, mind, and soul. We can bring our emotions to the Lord and have them tenderly touched, healed, and sorted so that we can get up in strength to fight the good fight of faith in Jesus name. Rom. 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Thank you, Lord, for keeping us emotionally sound in Christ. Amen.
0 Comments