The Enemy’s Oldest Tactic
By Dianne Prince
“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4–5, NKJV).
In today’s scripture, the enemy initiates a conversation with Eve. Although God clearly told Adam in Genesis 2:17, “You shall surely die if you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” the serpent counters with, “You will not surely die.” He claimed that eating the fruit would open their eyes and make them like God. Eve believed the lie, ate the fruit, and then gave some to Adam. You know the story. The fruit did not make her wise. It brought sin and death into what was once a perfect world.
That one small word—“not”—completely altered the meaning of God’s command and changed the course of human history. The enemy twisted God’s Word to serve his agenda: to trick humanity into disobedience.
Satan is still using the same strategy today. He manipulates Scripture, distorts truth, and subtly influences our thoughts, feelings, and decisions. His goal is twofold: 1) To diminish our witness for Christ, and 2) To disrupt our closeness with God.
While the enemy cannot steal your salvation, he will do everything in his power to make your journey difficult. He can tarnish your testimony, cause others to stumble, and hinder the impact of your influence. That is why discernment is essential. Not everything that sounds good is godly. Not every open door is from the Lord.
Be alert. Be prayerful. When something seems too good to be true, pause and seek God. Test every voice, every opportunity, every suggestion against the truth of Scripture. God’s Word is not only the standard. It is your safeguard.
Stand firm. Stay rooted. Let God’s truth, not the enemy’s twist, shape your life.
