Creator, Father, King #39

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

IN MEDIEVAL TIMES, IT became popular for painters to depict Satan as a hideous-looking beast, complete with fangs, horns, claws, fiery eyes, a pointy tail—the whole shebang. That, however, doesn’t jive with the biblical record.

Second Corinthians 11:14 says, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” This is figurative language, revealing the devil’s trickery. He always approaches us deceitfully, under the guise of offering something good, pleasing, or helpful.

His very first temptation in the Garden of Eden is a perfect example. He made the forbidden fruit appear tantalizing to Adam and Eve, even though it brought death. As Genesis 3:6 says, “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.”

Adam and Eve both fell hard for Satan’s wicked lie. But they quickly found out how high the cost of the sin’s deceit is.

What’s It Mean?

Sin always looks good. That’s what Satan wants us to think. But he is “the father of lies” (John 8:44)—history’s master con artist.

Sin, like Satan himself, is beguilingly treacherous. It might bring temporary happiness, but it always ends in pain and suffering. It falsely promises great blessings but only delivers terrible curses. It deceptively guarantees satisfaction, but only delivers spiritual death and destruction.

Look at the immediate aftereffects of Adam and Eve’s sin in Genesis 3:

• They immediately felt shame and hid from God (verses 7-8).
• They blamed others for their own wrongdoing (verses 12-13).
• Their life experiences became exceedingly harder (verses 16-19).
• Strife entered human relationships (verse 16).
• The ground was cursed (verse 17).
• Physical death became a reality (verse 19).
• They were banished from the Garden and separated from God’s presence (verse 23).

So much for Satan’s false promises.

Ultimately, sin never satisfies, but there is a Savior who always does! While sin brings death, “the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Where Adam (as humanity’s first representative) failed, Jesus (as humanity’s righteous representative) perfectly triumphed over sin’s curse. Turn from sin’s lies and trust in Christ today!

Now What?

Read Romans 5:12-21 to see how the Bible beautifully contrasts Adam’s failure with Jesus’ righteousness.

Did You Know?

In another example of figurative language, Revelation 12 calls Satan a “dragon,” but its detailed description of the dragon’s appearance is meant to be symbolic.