“Did God Actually Say?” – The Infamous Question of the Serpent
Genesis 3:1
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.”
The enemy hasn’t changed his strategy much since he began his reign of terror upon mankind. And sadly, mankind continues to be duped by him about a great many things. So, since we’ve started with Genesis, it only makes sense to begin this devotional with the very first time God speaks, “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’”
This statement is where believing the Word of God to be inerrant and God-breathed begins. The first ten chapters of Genesis are some of the most disputed truths of Scripture, but of those ten chapters, chapter one is at the top of the list. Here, the creation of the Universe, the age and creation of Earth, and the creation of mankind have been the subject of many a debate for a long time. Why? The very same question that led to the fall of man, “Did God actually say?” the enemy is still using to negate the creation story and God as the Creator by replacing it with a version of his own.
Sadly, before facts entered the equation, evolution took top billing over the creation story found in Genesis in 1859 when Darwin’s book “Origin of the Species” was released onto the world stage. The chief reason for this is how it answered the question, “Did God actually say?” To the enemy’s delight, many in the field of science shock their fist to the sky with a defiant…NO, as they wholeheartedly embraced the truth that everything created was created by mutation over time (chance) and adaptation (survival of the fittest). NO need for God in this equation! As a result, many in the scientific realm embraced theories based on assumptions and speculation that led them down the path of atheism.
Unfortunately, today these theories have magically become undeniable facts in our schoolbooks. Even our Christian schools have caved to the pressure of this assault on the truth. Paul warned the church of this in Galatians 5:9 when he wrote, “False teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!”
A Divine Revelation
In Colossians 1:15-17, it says, “He (Christ Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him (Christ Jesus) all things were created, in the heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…” Most Christians have no problem believing the New Testament claims regarding Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, yet deny the account of creation in Genesis as true. However, the New Testament clearly states that Jesus Christ was the creative force for all of creation. Yes, you heard this correctly. Jesus Christ was the Word in (John 1:1, 14), and He is the one who spoke everything into existence. So, when we doubt how the Universe and Earth were created, the six-day, twenty-four-hour timeframe for that creation, and the creation of mankind, we are questioning the work of JESUS, make no mistake about it! Doubting the inerrancy of the Old Testament account in Genesis puts the inerrancy of the New Testament in jeopardy as well!
I know that many of us have never looked into this issue of creation vs. evolution, nor have we considered the effects this issue has on our beliefs and the inerrancy of the Bible. After all, evolution has been taught in our schools since the early 1900s. It’s rarely addressed from the pulpit of our churches, and hardly ever is it associated with Christ and the New Testament gospel. However, Paul makes it clear who the author of creation is in his letter to the church in Colossi. So, when we, as believers, are duped into believing this evolutionary lie from the enemy. It’s Jesus’ work we are nullifying.
A Divine Challenge
Because this pernicious lie has infiltrated our culture and been embraced by every educational system across the globe, it has endangered the value of all life. After all, life is determined by how it is created. If all life were created by chance mutation, then survival of the fittest comes into play, and dare I say, that has led to a great magnitude of human atrocities.
What we believe about creation also affects how we treat each other, our planet, animals, and ourselves. Currently, there is a huge movement to erase gender as a created aspect of our DNA, and even our sexuality is being assaulted by the lie of the enemy that one who is gay is born that way. In our culture, the life of the unborn and the institution of marriage have already been redefined, and who knows what’s next on the chopping block with AI coming into play.
The sad truth is that since evolutionary theory was introduced into our schools and embraced by science, the value of life, our belief in God, His Word, and its authority, has been greatly diminished. If we remain complacent about how this pernicious lie and its effects are eroding our faith and our children’s faith, we may lose our freedom to stand up for what we believe in completely!
The counsel of Paul to Timothy found in II Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We need to heed this counsel and learn to rightly divide the word of truth, especially now when our culture continually attempts to rewrite that truth or deny it altogether.
Call to Action
Do you believe that the Word of God is inerrant from beginning to end? Will you take God at His Word, meditate on it, and submit to it as the absolute authority for truth on which you base every life decision on? When our culture challenges the truths of Scripture, will you be diligent and unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth in the spirit of love and gentleness before a world that considers truth relative?
Beloved, the world is still listening to the enemy who is still trying to get a NO answer to the question, “Did God actually say?” As followers of Christ, may our answer to that question be a resounding YES!
Father, give us a faith that is founded in both factual evidence we can see as well as the evidence of things unseen, with an uncompromising commitment to the TRUTH of both. Help us to hunger and thirst after Your Word so it can guide us to the TRUTH about everything that pertains to life and breath. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen!