Lent 1 - Knowledge that Protects - March 1, 2020

The Wisdom of Faith Protects

1. From a Foe you cannot defeat

2. Through a promise fulfilled in Jesus

Intro: Last weekend centered on how God did not protect His Son – to pay for our sins. Likewise, there are times when God puts us through a lot here in life. You’ve probably heard the popular Christian saying before that God will not give you more than you can handle. That’s not true, sometimes God does exactly that so that you trust that He can handle anything. This is where God’s protection comes in.

Today, our sermon text comes from our OT reading. We see what happened when Adam and Eve refused God’s protection and went their own way. There are many things we could study about this section from Genesis but today our theme centers on this one point: Sometimes being protected is better than being wise. There was a simplicity or naivety to Adam and Eve before they fell into sin. Much like a child who doesn’t know dirty language, or a young man who doesn’t objectify women in the way he looks at them. There are many examples of the effects of sin by experience.

But the problem is we discredit this protection in our modern, enlightened, liberated age. We hate being seen as vulnerable, even before God. Strength and power are considered the greatest moral virtues of modern America, the ability to pursue your dreams and accomplish them with great tenacity, anything you want. The ability to do whatever you want without anyone telling you no. These are the values people strive for today. But, what about self-control? What about obedience? What about putting others before yourself – even those who don’t like?

God did not design all goodness to be connected to knowledge. All goodness is connected to Him. What are you doing to stay grounded – to avoid the same pitfall as Adam and Eve? How do you fare when the tempter whispers the same flatteries in your ear as he did to Adam and Eve?

·       You’re stronger than God says.

·       You can do greater things than He lets you.

·       Don’t let anyone tell you no.

·       Open your eyes and your wisdom will lead the way.

If you’re educated, do you look down on those who aren’t? Do you diligently listen to what they say, or do you cast it aside because of who they are? Do you think your opinion should count for more than someone else’s?

If you’re experienced in the ways of world, familiar with sin and how human nature works in life, do you look down on those who are innocent in the ways of sin? Do you truly encourage righteousness and staying away from evil or do you think someone has to experience sin in order to be a better Christian? That idea is alive and well out there – it says, don’t bother protecting your children or fellow Christians, they need to get out into the world and let their legs stretch! Now you may not boast openly about sin today. If you wanted to do that, I doubt I’d see you in the pew today. But, do you operate with the same mindset? Is there a sentimental attachment to the life of sin – things like “those were the good days,” or “boy, did I really tear it up back in the day!”

You see, we’re all different people. We are Christians, but we come from different backgrounds, we have different levels of education, we are skilled in different areas. We have different pasts, we’ve experienced different things that have shaped who we are today. Yet, the lie of Satan touches all of us in the same way. You are not more or less exposed to it based on your peculiarities. If Satan could get to the only two perfect members of God’s creation, be sure he can get to you. Your knowledge won’t protect you. Your experience won’t help you. You, in fact, will make it worse.

That’s the biggest thing Satan wants you to think about – you. He wants that to be the only focus you have. He wants to isolate you from your real hope. He wants to put you on an island where he can assault you from all angles. So, before the temptation actually comes, or takes root in your heart, Satan is more intent on isolating you from Christ. And usually the best way to do that is let YOU take the reins. “I’m smarter than that – I won’t fall prey to temptation.” “I’ve been around the block a time or two, I won’t be so easily duped.” “What the Bible says is too simple, you can’t go through life believing that.”

You need to prepare everyday against this threat of isolationism from God. This is the battleground. If you neglect strengthening your faith daily, you will fall when the tempter’s blow comes. The victory over temptation is won in the little things. Think for a moment of all the things in our world that isolate us from Christ.

·       The general attitude of being a good person and everything working out fine (spiritual numbness/blindness). “It’s not about what you believe but how you believe.”

·       Trusting in something else (money, popularity – social media/caring so much what others see me doing or thinking of me, politics or a particular political leader, fulfilling lust and pleasure – having what I want now – latest phone, TV, game, car, house, etc.) These are all examples of tying ourselves to something that will fail – just like our own personal knowledge.   

·       Even in spiritual things –

o   worship is more about being entertained than taught.

o   I know best and I have no need to be corrected.

o   I know what I believe and no one is going to change my mind.

o   Church – God’s Word – the Sacraments are all lesser priorities in my weekly routine. I don’t have time for them, but I do have time for that movie release, or going out to eat with my friends, or taking that vacation, or just chilling at home.

These are the battlegrounds because each of these things can push you a little bit farther away from Christ – and these are just the elements of everyday life around us. God tells you:

Romans 16:19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.  

Proverbs 1:7,10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Being wise is what is good means being less knowledgeable and experienced in the ways of the world.

Take a look at the example we have from Adam and Eve. The beginning of sin, but also the first promise of a Savior. Satan lied to them in two distinct ways with the intention of isolating them from God. The first lie was about what God said – introducing doubt into Eve’s mind. When Eve explained God’s commandment regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Satan responded immediately “No you will not die!”

The second lie came in the next breath, as Satan continued: "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." This second lie was about flattering Eve. Through these two lies, Satan sent Adam and Eve on a different trajectory from God. By trying to make God out to be a loveless tyrant and Adam and Eve into greater creatures than they really were – Satan achieved isolation. And the result, once sin had taken hold, was exactly what God had warned of – death. Notice how that death, that separation, is portrayed later in the verses. When God looks for Adam and Eve in the Garden, they hide. They’re afraid. They feel this type of fear for the first time ever, and they don’t know how to respond. For the first time there is something outside of the way God created them that separates them, isolates them, from their Maker.

Did Adam and Eve have a greater knowledge? The case could be made for yes. Their eyes were opened. They had new information about God, but it wasn’t positive or healthy. God asked in verse 11: "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Adam and Eve knew more now – but it was the knowledge of sin and the wages of death. As their knowledge increased, their protection before God decreased.

Proverbs 15:16 tells us “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.” How true that was for Adam and Eve. How true it is for us. Being protected and safe at the expense of knowledge is not a limitation. It’s a blessing. And the most interesting thing is that we’re not missing out on anything by being protected by God. Satan deceived Adam and Eve by tempting them to believe they could be equal, even greater than God. He told them that their connection to God could be more than how God designed it to be. Instead of being creation, they could be Creator. Mankind can boast in their accomplishments and their power, but it is nothing in comparison to God.

But, true as this is, God did create Adam and Eve in His image. They were not His equals, but they were His. His own children. His special creation. Created with freedom of the will and a conscience in total righteousness. Created with the intent to have an enduring relationship with the divine. Created with an awareness that they were loved and with a total knowledge of how that love came into their lives. Satan deceived Adam and Eve to buy into his lie, but he also won that battle because of what he caused them to forget. He shifted their gaze to what God had forbidden, instead of abundance of what God had freely provided.

The same is true for us when the things of the world shift our focus from God’s blessings to trying to stretch the boundaries of truth. In our vain quest to be in total control of our lives, we too may forget that though we are not gods, we are made in His image too. And maybe, just maybe, that’s much better.  

Satan won that battle, and we’re still seeing the impact today. But that was only one battle – and one that continues to be fought in your heart daily. The war is over. The victory is won in Christ. The promise given in the final verse of our text – the only promise ever to come directly from God to Satan in Scripture – has been accomplished. When Christ died on the cross, He crushed the head of the serpent. Through that moment in history the battles you face have only one outcome in Jesus – total victory. Yes, it wounded His heel. Through offering His own life on God’s altar of justice, Jesus experienced the greatest pain of body soul – even death and condemnation from His Father. But, by that very act that wounded our Lord so deeply – that killed Him, Satan was defeated forever, and his deceptive ploys exposed and confounded by God’s truth.

You are safe. You are protected by Jesus. But the scenario Adam and Eve faced will continue to exist in your life as long as this world endures. Jesus has done everything necessary for your victory and salvation, but He will not force you to trust it. He will not control or manipulate you – rather He pleads to you to follow His love, not His threat. Just as in the beginning, so it is today – faith is about being joined to Jesus – being connected to Him. That may mean foregoing your wisdom. It may mean obeying His Word instead of the world’s. It may mean being simple in evil and experienced in good. It may mean being honest about your inabilities against the serpent and responding in true humility of thought and word. Being connected to Jesus means a lot, there’s no doubt. But most of all it means you are safe for eternity – and in the end, that’s all that matters. Amen.