I like to substitute facts for impressions. “So and so hates me” one of my kids may say. “How do you know that? When did they tell you?” … “They didn’t, I just know.” Then I would say: “You know, presumption is the devil’s playground.” As Eve continues her conversation with the crafty interloper, the serpent says: “You will not surely die.” His tactics move from planting a seed of doubt with a question, “Did God actually say”, to an outright contradiction of God’s warning. He invites Eve to presume upon God’s love and grace. The ‘reading between the lines’ subtext would go something like this: “Surely God doesn’t mean that. Why would someone who loves you hold something back from you?” In some ways, it is not unlike the second temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness when the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple quoting that God the Father “will command his angels concerning you.” Jesus, as always, had the answer for him saying: “Again it is written, ‘You should not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Eve, by continuing the conversation falls further down the devil’s path, and begins to doubt the seriousness of an offence before God.
When we reflect upon the times when we turn away from God and toward sin, justification is some part of that journey. As Christians, too often part of that justification is diminishing the realty of God’s settled opposition to sin, and to presume upon his grace.
Something to apply:
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)” Learning how to live “by the Spirit” is a life-long lesson. Do not be discouraged when you fail, but trust again in the forgiveness and power of Christ. There are numerous great passages on Christian discipleship; a great place to start is Colossians 3:1-17 which encourages us to walk in new life with Christ, with his new perspective.