A deal with the devil is always a bad bargain. Witness the case of Adam and Eve.
God had only one rule for Adam. He had already provided the man with the knowledge of good. Adam knew God Himself, and walked in fellowship with Him. God had provided him with every good thing. And then God told him not to eat of the tree because he would come to know evil and death. What kind of a fool would make a choice for evil and death? Humans.
God then provided a mate for Adam; he created Eve. They both knew only good ... and life.
Enter Satan. With his bargain.
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Notice how Satan places doubt in her mind - God is being unreasonable ... he's trying to deny her something, to limit her.
"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat
of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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." Eve defends God ... He didn't want them to eat of the tree because it was dangerous. She defends God, but she is eager to hear more.
"And
the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
gods, knowing good and evil." First, Satan lies to her, saying she would not die. Then he tells her the truth, but only half the truth. Her eyes would be opened, and she would know not only good - but evil - just as God did. What he failed to include were the terrible consequences, which may be summed up as separation from God, through evil and death ... just exactly as God had warned.
Nothing has changed. Satan is making the same bargain, using the same tactics, promising the same things - knowledge and godhood. And with the same awful consequences - evil and death. Wouldn't you think mankind would eventually get it?
God has a better offer. Accept His offer while there is time.
Royal Heir
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