So far in Chapter 12 of The Bridge from OneDayBow, we’ve talked about stumbling blocks in disguise as shortcuts – which Tim found out the hard way – and Tim’s (and mine!) need for mercy. But what about the 900 pound gorilla in the room? Okay, there is no 900 pound gorilla, and there isn’t even a the room. What I mean is the most obvious enemy in the scene: Natas!

I think that Tim would say he is scarier in person than in print. Knowing who Natas represents, I wholeheartedly agree! By the way, we all know who Natas represents, right? If not, take a minute and spell the name backwards.  I’ll wait for you…. Yes! Satan! That word means the adversary or opposer. He definitely appears as both to Tim in this passage – and for all believers!

As he taunts the terrified Tim, he tells of a control that he has in HereAndNow that would make Tim run for his life, except that he isn’t going anywhere in this mud. Natas claims that he “owns” HereAndNow? Really?

First caution, don’t trust Satan – aka Natas – to tell the truth. He is the father of lies and is speaking his native language when he lies. (John 8:44) But how did he get any kind of foothold at all? Rather than try to explain, let’s let the Bible do that. Genesis 3:1-13:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

There you have it! Any questions? I know, lots of them

Let’s talk more next time.