All of us have done dumb things. But one of the dumbest things that anybody could have done is found in Genesis chapter 3. An intelligent man and an intelligent woman made a very dumb decision. This decision was so damaging that six thousand years later we still feel the repercussions of their dumb decisions.
And when we look at this passage, we will soon realize that Adam and Eve were no dummies. Adam’s first assignment when God made him was to name all the animals in the world. It takes a lot of intelligence to do that. When God made man in His own image, He didn’t make man dumb. He gave man a 3-pound brain that can do things that super computers cannot do!
What takes place in chapter 3 of Genesis is so intricate to our lives that it is one of the foundational chapters of the Bible. It is a key to understanding life, success, eternity, God, each other, and everything in between!
As I work with R/U, I see daily that people do dumb things! I don't want you to think I am calling people dumb, and I am not speaking of uneducated, simple people here! It’s not even the backslidden Christian of whom we are speaking! If Adam and Eve were members of our local church, they would be the perfect couple! These were intelligent people!
First Timothy 2:14 helps us also better understand what took place on that fateful day in the lives of Adam and Eve. Speaking of that very occasion in the garden, God tells us that, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
If we take a hard look at sin, we are going to find two sources for why smart people do dumb things.
The Bible says that Eve was deceived. It does not mean that Eve was of any less intelligence.
How was Eve deceived? Well, at that time, there was only one deceiver available—Lucifer, otherwise known as, the devil. In Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, we find out that Lucifer had superior intelligence, beauty, and incredible skill in music. He was in charge of 1/3 of heaven’s angels! But through his pride, he attempted to be equal with God. This plunged him into the world as Satan. InJohn 8:44, Jesus said that he is the father of lies, the great deceiver. And at the core of sin in most people’s lives is a deception!
Sin by its very nature is deceptive. Paul put it this way:
- Romans 7:11 (KJV) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
- Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Sin is deceptive! They don’t show the Marlboro man just before death, eaten with cancer. Alcohol never tells of the broken lives, torn families, and regretful consequences. Why? Because sin is deceiving.
People can deceive you. Almost every time it is used it is warning the reader against being deceived by people.
Trace sin back to its roots, and we see that sometimes we sin because we are simply deceived! We actually think we are doing something that’s good, beneficial and helpful! And yet, we sin. Even though Eve was deceived, she still suffered the consequences. Even though you may have been deceived into sin, you will still suffer your consequences.
You see, the greatest deceiver is not Satan, it’s self. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” And that’s what makes this so difficult. We can often think that we are the ones that are okay. But in reality, we are being deceived. But that’s all part of being deceived—you don’t even know it!
Those on the outside, generally being authority, can clearly see the destruction of your foolish choices. But we decide, “Well, I just think it’s the right thing to do.” If it is contrary to God’s Word, then it’s not the right thing to do. You may say, “But I have such a good feeling about this!” Hang your feelings! If you live by your feelings, you will be like a yoyo. Feelings come and go, but God’s Word is eternal. He knows what is best for you.
Not only was Eve deceived,but in fact, Adam’s sin was so great that God recorded in Romans 5:12 that, “…by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.” Adam went into this with his eyes wide open. Adam’s sin was more hideous and heinous than Eve’s because here is what he did: He forsook his position under God’s authority, thus rendering himself ineffective as a leader in a position of authority in his own home to be the provider and protector of his wife. And by coming out from under his authority, Adam became his own authority, thus he lost his authority, and because of that, God said that his sin was the greater sin.
When Adam came out from under God’s authority in his life, their home imploded.
Adam’s sin was not the sin of deception; his sin was the sin of deliberation! He deliberately chose to sin, knowing full well what he was doing.
Now, for you and me, six thousand years later, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is this: If you don’t deal with your sin biblically, you are going to destroy your life. I don’t care how ideal your marriage may be, you could have the nicest home like Adam and Eve did, you could have the greatest relationship with God, but if you get deceived by the devil, you will be destroyed. It doesn’t matter who you are; you can’t get into a position with God that you can’t be destroyed. And if you deliberately step out from under God’s ordained authority in your life, it will influence and impact your ability to lead others, and you will be responsible for destroying lives. It’s bad news, but it’s the truth.
The good news is this: Through confession of sin, forsaking of our sin, and trusting Jesus Christ, that sin can be broken. Glory to God! “You don’t have to be deceived." Jesus's blood can cleanse you from your sin and set you free. It will give you a sound mind, and you can make good decisions and good choices; you do not have to be deceived.
And you can come back under His authority. God gave us authority for our protection. Put yourself back under that protection.
