God Did Say

(Here’s one from the archives. I wrote this in 2005 in a devotion to some teens I was meeting each week for discipleship. I’ve often used it’s core ideas in many sermons since.)

Satan loves to bring doubt to the words and Word of God. He tries this by saying “Did God say…” and then questions the words and commands of God so as to distort the heart and character of God. Satan wanted them to think that God was holding back something good from them. He twisted the truth in order to demean Creator God. Let’s read it.

Gen 3:1-10  3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?  The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 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." 

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." 

Since the beginning of time and the fall of satan, the devil has been on a mission to denounce God and convince men to doubt God’s voice and God’s ultimate authority.  Satan says to man, “Did God really say…?”  And with that question our minds wander and we begin to reason with our motives and question God’s ultimate authority in our lives. He wants us to wonder “Is God truly good or is He just the fun police out to make my life miserable?”

Questioning His command is to deny God’s true power.  Think about it; all that was created was done with God’s voice!

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’  Then God said, ‘Let there be an expanse.’  Then God said, ‘Let there be vegetation.”  All that was created was simply molecules in an obedient response to the voice of God.  That’s amazing!  Even us here today were created by the idea and spoken word of God: “Then God said, ‘Let Us (God the Father, Son – Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) make men in OUR own image.” You and I are the image of God on the earth and that’s why God want to get you (HIS IMAGE) to doubt His goodness and His power.

So satan was “playing with fire” as he had done before when he said, “Did God really say…?”  To question God’s command is to question His authority.  God the Father IS good and He HAS created you with gifts and talents and unique character traits that reveal His nature. The more you submit to Jesus and the more time you spend with Him, the more you’ll reflect His image and love His voice.

God did say you were created in His image 

27 “So God created man (with His voice) in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them Gen 1:31  God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” God made us for His own pleasure, we were created to be with Him and enjoy each other’s company! I love how John Piper often reminds us that we were made for the joying of knowing God!

You were created unique and special. That weird quirk you have - yeah God did that. That eye for design you have - yeah God did that. That administrative gift - yup, God did that. Those striking good looks - Ok - let’s not get carried away.

God did say you were completely forgiven and made into a new creation

When God promises in His word that “all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” He meant it. When He said... “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9) He meant it! When He said “You are a new creation, the old has passed and the new has come.” He meant it!

God DID say that you are completely known and yet completely loved! You have become one with Christ! When God sees you, He sees Jesus. You don’t need to impress anyone with your abilities. You don’t need to cower either - listening the voice of satan saying “you’re nothing” You can be bold but loving, brave but gentle, strong but poised. Why? God DID say you are united with Christ and HE is now your identity!

Gal 2:20 “I identified myself completely with Christ. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to just impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not 'mine,' but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”