FLIP-FLOP
Genesis 3:3,4,6 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: …she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Oh, the wiles of Satan! How long did Adam and Eve share blissful peace? Did they even make it through the honeymoon? Satan sought one man to sin. There weren’t many to choose from, not many to beguile; just Adam. The strategy was straightforward, the plan simplistic. If Satan could get one man to sin then he’d get all the credit, all the glory. Who would Adam obey? Would he obey the God of creation or the god of deceit and disobedience? Would the choice of one man send Satan soaring high above the head and shoulders of God? Satan had a plan and at least a third of the angels of Heaven gave him ear. Imagine the whisperings and conversations as Satan shared his plan with the other angels. But, why whisper? Satan could have boldly come before the angels, in God’s sight, and made his case for preeminence. God could not be omniscient or omnipotent if one man were to sin! Satan would then be supreme if God were found wanting; found with fault and error. The Devil, though not yet named, had a masterful and cunning plan. The fall of man would be the rise of Satan. The fall of man would portend the diminishing deity of God and the rise of Lucifer’s reign.
Can you imagine the battle in Heaven at Adam’s fall? Every third angel in triumph claimed the mastery of Lucifer; the wisdom of Satan over God. There may have been a move against the Throne, the battle of angels raging across the heavens, as God’s voice thundered through the small and faraway garden.
And, then the plan is revealed! Not Satan’s paltry, inconsequential, and trivial musings, but the plan of God, masterful and beyond the limitation of human language to express. It was so grand a plan that Satan’s part would only bring strength, glory, and honor to God. Satan had not imagined, considered, or envisioned a redeemer. A redeemer! Through a perfect and sinless redeemer men would be stronger, more loyal, and share an intimate relationship with God through reconciliation, as not creature, but sons of God. Satan must have been devastated, his followers demoralized and rebellious. What would he do now?
Satan sought to destroy the redeemer. It wasn’t a new plan, just a changing of gears. While he was at it he’d be sure to disguise himself as many gods and continue a campaign of attrition. While Satan sought the redeemer, the promise of a redeemer brought many into that special and intimate relationship with God. Satan was fighting a war of attrition on three fronts. He sought the destruction of the redeemer, the continued beguilement of a lost world, and the derailment of the sons of God. You might say he had his hands full. Yet, God continued, without concealment or deceit, to call the fallen unto Him.
Then, there came a day for Satan to tempt the redeemer, the new Adam. Oh, but to his chagrin, this Adam was God in the flesh. Not merely a sinless man, but the God-man. Such opportunity! Satan knew how to deal with the flesh – destroy it! Some of the rebellious angels may have come flocking back to Satan’s side hoping for another chance at elevating their god. Again, Satan was used and demeaned. Christ rose from the dead, victorious over death and Hell. Through the resurrection of Christ we can celebrate His victory, live consecrated lives and be assured of eternity with God. Satan needed a new strategy!
II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan added an act of desperation. Suppose Satan spreads a gospel of good works; hoping one might be made righteous. Perhaps he wields a two-fold plan. On one hand he deceives the lost into thinking they can have a security through their own righteousness. Wouldn’t he also seek the nullification of the atoning victory of Christ on the cross? He might think one sinless man could unravel God’s plan; one sinless besides Jesus. So, Satan seeks to snare men into believing they have a chance at righteousness. But also, might hope for one sinless man to help dethrone God.
If Satan were to raise up one sinless and righteous man there would be no need for a savior, a redeemer, reconciliation, mercy, grace, or faith. Has Satan come to believe his own lies? God’s word states unequivocally – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”, (Romans 3:23), and “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”, (Psalm 51:5) Satan may be evil, but he isn’t an idiot. But, could he help society and science deliver a sinless man? Is a sinless man possible through science; a counterfeit to the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ? Isn’t it curious that homosexuality by definition defies reproduction, yet the homosexual desires a reproduction? It seems reasonable, as party and pawn to Satan’s design, for science to unravel the oxymoronic dilemma of homosexual reproduction. Society will soon embrace human cloning, the homosexual will demand it. When will science attempt a clone through Eve’s seed and fan the flames of Satan’s rebellion. Would a clone from a woman’s egg without the fertilization of a man be the same as Eve’s seed? Would this be a man born without Adam’s sin? Could a sinless clone be raised righteous or better yet, aborted at birth and never given opportunity to sin? Doesn’t Satan know God is still in control!
We judge the integrity and craftiness of politicians by their flip-flopping of the issues. Every flip-flop makes the politician suspect and only the most ardent supporter will make or believe excuse. Why is Satan always the exception? First, he tempts man to sin and then espouses righteousness. He’s like a fish out of water, flopping in desperation!
Satan is playing a losing game and he knows it. He fights tooth and nail, never giving up because he knows there is no chance or desire for reconciliation. But, men don’t suffer the handicap of Satan. We have not a chance but a surety of redemption.
God has been faithful and merciful to sinners. God made recompense for our fallen state. Satan has never offered anything profitable to man. Every device of Satan has led to destruction. Satan has allied with men and angels to usurp God’s authority. But in the end, only the Lake of Fire and eternal torment waits for this axis of evil.
God has always been consistent, never failing, and above board. There is no hidden agenda, no secret ingredient. God has made one way, Jesus Christ. His plan is perfect and without blemish.
Who will you trust today; the flip-flopping Satan, or the faithful Jesus Christ?
