To Which Voice Will You Listen This Week?

Since the Garden of Eden, basically there have been three voices of influence in the world. The first voice is God’s (Genesis 1). The second voice is man’s (Genesis 2). Finally, the third voice is the serpent’s voice (Genesis 3). The third voice questions God, deceives Eve and Adam, and distorts reality. This third voice seeks to tear down any unity or fellowship between the first and second voices. Ultimately, the third voice desires to destroy both the first and second voice. To which voice will you listen this week?

The Third Voice

The third voice hates God and people. The serpent entered the Garden of Eden with one objective: to deceive Eve and cause her death. The serpent knew everything God had said to Adam in Genesis 2. Throughout the serpents conversation with Eve, he used God’s words and twisted them. No doubt, Eve would have been much more apprehensive had the serpent discussed something totally different with her than what God had said. The serpent knew better. Instead, he used God’s words and added a twist. He implied to Eve that she would be better off without God. Seeking to deceive her, he outright implied God is a liar, full of pride, and was somehow keeping Eve from having a life full of pleasure.

Nothing has changed in the centuries and centuries since this dreadful day in human history. The third voice continues to try to deceive, wreck people, and distort truth. Look at the serpent’s description in various ways throughout the Bible.

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:9).

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:8-10)

Your Choice

As the week gets started, you have to make a choice: to which voice will you listen this week?

Voice One – God’s

or

Voice Three – a condemned voice only capable to dishonoring God and seeking to destroy God’s work.

Image Credit Sebastien Gabriel