March 6, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4.25-26, 27)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD

I would be remiss as a teacher of the whole Word of God, that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it has been revealed in writing from Genesis, the Book of Beginnings, to the Epistle of Revelation as given to John the Beloved Disciple by the Resurrected Christ Jesus, if I did not add to the previous reflection the following. There can be no doubt that Paul’s warning to the Ephesian community of faith in Jesus as the Christ, “Do not give the Devil a foothold,” speaks to false teaching as it concerns both the Law and the Prophets and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As simple as this, but far more complicated, is the vision we receive in Genesis and the Garden experience of being tempted to believe in another sovereignty apart from Yahweh Elohim. We see the evidence of the problem of “giving the devil a foothold” as Adam and Eve recognize the vast difference which sin opened their eyes to between themselves and God and the Serpent. Without question, that difference was always there. God and humankind are not of the same “reality.” God is God and there can only be one God. Him alone, as the great command declares, “Hear, o Israel, the Lord our God is one and He should be worshiped in spirit and in truth with all one’s heart, mind and strength.” It is the basic and most fundamental revelation of righteousness; that is, the definition of “right relationships.” It may be argued that God is the One in error by letting Satan, the Fallen Lucifer, have a foothold in Eden having been cast down to earth from Heaven. Except, using the imagery provided in Genesis itself, that Satan was a “serpent” and therefore, for the sake of argument, had no feet. Such literalism was not intended, I am sure, but it serves a purpose to help us understand our own reflection as we gaze into the spiritual mirror of our lives. It was not up to God to put Satan “in his place” on earth. That opportunity belonged to God’s “image” of righteousness and righteous living which was the community of “two being as one.” As I have mentioned in the past, the honus was upon Adam to guard, guide and protect Eve from all manner of harm and evil. What evil or harm existed in the Garden but the “forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Not that the fruit itself was evil but the disobedience to God’s simple command. God had said “All in the Garden is yours and intended for your living and livelihood; except for that Tree. Of that Tree you shall not eat lest you die!” Seems simple enough, right? They were able to do many things; many of which they would discover in their walk with one another and with God. But, there was only “one thing” they were not to do. Of course, Paul easily embraces the conundrum in his letter to the Roman community of faith in Jesus Chrsit, “That which I do not want to do I do and that which I am to do I do not do.” Where Satan didn’t have “a leg to stand on,” Adam allowed him to have a foothold. He observed and did not hinder Eve from considering the invitation to become disobedient. After all, what could just a little nibble hurt, right?

Well, we know what happened next and for their lack of obedience they fell under a new set of rules to govern their lives. They would still have to shepherd and steward the earth and its resources. They would still have to walk knowing that God was with them always. But, the journey would not be in bliss and innocence. They would have to experience the burden of work and childbirth and parenting and struggling against the elements of a world that believed it did not need God. And as for Satan, he received no foothold either nor an advantage because the promise would be a day that would come when the seed of Adam and Eve would crush the head of the serpent with His heel. Not even His whole foot but His heel. And in the Book of Revelation that reality is prophesied to come to pass on “that Day.” The rule and reign of Satan would be forever voided of an earthly presence. His terror and temptation would bear fruit in the Lake of Fire which was surrounded by the very darkness it used to attempt to overcome the light. It is by Christ alone, Son of God and Son of Humankind, that new life comes into the world making all things new so that those who call upon the name of the Lord shall not only be saved but brought into the House of the Lord where the glory of God cannot be hindered. So far from this “heaven” will hell be that Satan will indeed have no opportunity to gain a foothold. And so, the teaching of righteousness which is of the gospel of Jesus the Christ is what all believers should heed. It is the Word of God given describing all we can do and the one thing we cannot do. All who promote a life otherwise, seeking an advantage for themselves in lieu of God or claiming they have sole propriety over God or as God, should be turned away if not turned to God in repentance. To do otherwise is to allow “Satan” to gain a foothold and bring others who are not yet of the faith to live forever without faith. Mighty ones of God, beware. What was true then is even more true today. We have the benchmark by which to discern what is good and what is evil. We have the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit to stand fast against what is evil and stand firm with what is good. But, as always, the choice is yours, mine and ours. What shall we choose?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.