Have you ever tried to imagine what it was like to live before sin entered into the world? We get a glimpse of it at the beginning of Genesis when Adam and Eve were both living in a perfect place, with perfect conditions, in perfect harmony with creation, and perfect peace with God and each other. I can’t even imagine what perfect harmony must have been like. But then something happened. Something changed the peace they had come to love. That something was a lie.

God had given Adam one rule to live by: Genesis 2:16-17 ¹⁶ And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

God gave a command then a promise:

Command: You are free to eat from ANY tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (So just ONE tree you cannot eat from, just one rule).

Promise: for when you eat of it you will surely die.

What happens next is very intriguing. Satan comes in the form of a serpent and speaks to Eve. Notice the first words out of his mouth:  “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (3:1)

His first words to humanity call into question what God has said. When God spoke, He did not say that they must not eat from “any” tree, but rather that they could eat from “any” tree except one. Satan’s first words twist God’s truth. Every believable lie has enough truth to suck us in. Instead of saying the opposite of what God says, causing the lie to be openly obvious, he instead twists God’s words. After Eve clarifies that it is just one tree (and adds her own rules about not even touching the tree), then Satan says, Genesis 3:4-5 ⁴ “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.  ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

In verse 4, Satan surmises that God cannot be trusted and will not keep His promises. What was God’s promise? “for when you eat of it you will surely die.” What was Satan’s direct opposition? “You will not surely die.” He is basically saying that God does not keep His promises.

This is exactly what happens to us when we believe lies and we begin to falsely believe that God does not keep His promises.

In the next verse, Satan unveils the lie for Eve, and says that God is holding out on her. He leaves her with the ideas such as: there is more, but God doesn’t want you to have it, so go get it yourself. Now, she had to decide.

That was the lie that “got” Eve. What is the lie that “gets” you? We all have lies that we are more prone to believe than others. Our lies may not be the same as the one Eve believed, but we all hear them. I have made a list of ones that I struggle with or believe are popular with people I know and love. These lies include things like:

• If they knew the truth they would reject me.
• I have to do certain things or God will not love me.
• If I do enough I will have better status with God.
• There is something other than God that will bring me satisfaction.
• If enough people approve of me that will be enough.

What lie do you believe that impacts your life?

Satan’s strategy is still the same and alive today:

1. Get you to doubt. Get you to doubt what God has said. Get you to doubt whether God will or can keep His promises.
2. Twist the truth to sound believable. This is usually customized for each individual based on the lies we are more prone to believe.
3. Bait us with a lie that will change how we live, how we relate with God and with one another.

Our response must be to know God’s promises and live by them. That is what it means to live by faith. Are you living by the promises of God or does a lie control your life?

There is a lot of discussion happening in homes and on the internet regarding marriage right now. I think this is potentially a great thing. So what is the big deal?

Before I jump into the hot topic of this week (The Marriage Amendment in NC), let me start off by asking: What is the big deal about marriage anyway?

Let me start off by saying what marriage is not?

• Marriage is not merely a legal contract.
• Marriage is not something done for tax or insurance benefits.
• Marriage is not simply two people in love, living in the same place.
• Marriage is not an idea man made up.

So what is marriage?

Marriage was originally instituted by God in Gen 2:24 as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Gen 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:4-5 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

Marriage as designed by God is a picture of the gospel. It is a covenant relationship between one man and one woman to give their lives sacrificially fulfilling their God given roles for the sake of living out a picture of the good news of Jesus Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Jesus Christ loved the church (Eph 5:25-33). Wives are to submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Jesus (Eph 5:22-24). In this harmony people who do not know Jesus are to see a picture of the gospel through the institution of marriage.

So it is:

• Designed and defined by God as a relationship between one man and one woman in covenant before Him.
• For the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Implication:

We don’t get to decide what is and is not a valid marriage. God has already done that when He instituted marriage.

Now the debate:

The debate raging amongst many Christ followers is not how to define marriage. The debate is whether or not to vote for an amendment that states:

“Sec. 6.  Marriage.

Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.  This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.” (Copy and pasted from: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/HTML/S514v3.html).

Many fear that this law goes too far in defining marriage. We have seen a stir that many consider a scare tactic to confuse the issue. Many fear to take steps to make moral decisions. I remember learning from a mentor: It is never wrong to do what is right (See Daniel in Daniel 6 or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3). The truth is we don’t get to redefine what God has already defined for us. Marriage is a covenanted relationship between one man and one woman.

Yesterday, at 10:10am I became a Daddy (for the fourth time), as Gracie Belle Lehr was born at: 6 pounds and 12 ounces. It was an exciting and overwhelming day. It was exciting to think about all of the potential that is there on the first day of her life. Anything could happen. She could do and become anything at this point. That is scary and exciting for a father. It is scary to think of all of the danger, all of the pain, all of the decisions that are out there. At the same time, all of those decisions bring with them great opportunity for her to be used by God. My prayer for her like each of my other three girls will be that, God will use them beyond what I could ask or imagine (Eph 3:20-21). I would hate to limit them with my dreams of what could be.

The role of a father is overwhelming too. Yesterday when Gracie’s three older sisters came up to visit I had a moment of great joy. Amidst the high pitched voices, the twirling hair and dresses, I was overwhelmed with how gracious God has been to entrust me with these little gifts. I am overwhelmed that God in His divine wisdom thought I would be the best possible father for these girls. A father accountable to point her to her Heavenly Father. To show her unconditional love. To teach and train her (Deut 6:4-9). A father with the role of showing her what faith looks like through my own life. It is all overwhelming, but its part of the God given gift of having the only role that shares a name with our Heavenly Father.