p. 11 | THE FIRST GREAT LIE by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 21, 1906

THE FIRST GREAT LIE.

By H. A. St. John

"Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

ANSWER: "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." Gen. 3: 1-3.

This first question in all human history, was propounded to the first woman, the mother of all living, by the same being that questioned the goodness and justice of God in heaven. Lucifer first questioned, then disbelieved, then rebelled, and was expelled from heaven. By a question, this first great rebel started the human race at its very beginning on a like course of doubt, rebellion, and ruin. Eve's answer to Satan's question has one element of weakness, in that it contains a statement not found in the words of the Lord. This should teach us the importance of exactitude when acting as mouthpiece for God.

The serpent told Eve four things that would result if they would eat of that forbidden fruit. These four things were (1) "Your eyes shall be opened;" (2) "Ye shall know good and evil;" (3) "Ye shall be as God;" (4) "Ye shall not surely die."

The reader will observe that the statements of the serpent were half true, and half false. By disobedience their eyes were opened, and they did know evil. But they did not become God, neither did they escape death.

Here we learn that the first liar and the author of lies, in order to make his lies more deceptive and effectual, incorporated with them a certain proportion of truth. A lie may be one-half truth, or even more, but the lie, the fatal poison, is lurking in all its teaching somewhere. The doctrines of devils are usually, if not invariably, sugar-coated with truth to conceal the fatal thing.

Truth corrupted, adulterated, poisoned with lies, constitutes the "wine of Babylon" in her golden cup, which for long centuries has been freely and lavishly poured out to the inhabitants of earth, who are made drunken thereby, from the king on his throne to the lowest subject of every tribe and nation.

Let us therefore give the most earnest heed to the things written in the revealed Word of God. Prove all things by that Word, and hold fast the unvarnished, uncorrupted truth. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8: 20.

H. A. ST. JOHN.