By Aira Ledesma
I will begin this article with Genesis 3:1-5, and let’s read it carefully. 1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
I’ve read these verses in the Bible several times, and I want to share an impression that I later realized. If we understand this part well, where the serpent tempted Eve to disobey God, two sins that continue to be committed by humans until today were used by Satan. Satan used lying and spreading gossip or slander against God. He lied when he tempted Eve and made it seem like what God said wasn’t true. He even had the audacity to make it appear as if God didn’t want them to eat from those fruits because they would become like God, knowing good and evil.
Adam and Eve were filled with innocence at that time. Even though they lived naked in the Garden of Eden, they didn’t see anything impure in themselves because their minds were free from any filth. However, when they were tempted by Satan and fell into the sin of disobedience, their eyes were truly opened, and they felt shame upon seeing their nakedness.
The change in the lives of Adam and Eve happened after Eve believed in the lies and gossip brought by Satan. The first sin began, and from then on, sin became a part of human life.
Today, the two serious sins inherited from Satan continue to spread. Many people lie and gossip in our time. Those who speak untruths to harm others, knowingly spreading false information, are following Satan’s pattern. It seems that people don’t realize that lying and spreading false information and gossip without truth are grave sins.
Being a liar and slanderer or gossipmonger is not a simple sin. These sins have serious consequences. Neither can achieve eternal life in God’s kingdom.
Here’s what is written about lies and slander:
Revelation 21:8 New King James Version (NKJV) 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV) 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Many fall into these sins. I myself have fallen into this trap of Satan when I share my experiences with someone, even if what I’m saying is true. But even if what we say is true, it’s better to be cautious about what we say and think.
Thank you for reading! This is the day that the Lord has made!
