Every day, we’re confronted with facts that are commonly repeated but aren’t entirely true—like the myth that goldfish only have a 3-second memory, or that cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. These examples remind us how quickly false ideas can spread and how easily we can believe them. This tendency to accept misinformation takes on much more serious consequences when it comes to spiritual truths.
Humanity’s greatest challenge is sin, introduced at the dawn of creation. The story in Genesis 2–3 reveals how deception first entered the world and corrupted our relationship with God, each other, and even ourselves. Yet the Bible is clear that while sin is a universal problem, Jesus is the universal solution.
The Origin of Doubt and Deception
“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”
(Genesis 2:15–17, NLT)
“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ … ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’”
(Genesis 3:1–5, NLT)
Adam and Eve knew only truth until they encountered the serpent’s lie. This first deception was cunning—designed to sound almost true. From that moment, sin took root, leading to shame, guilt, and separation from God. Ever since, sin has functioned like a virus, infecting all aspects of life.
The Consequences of Sin
- Separation from God“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”
(Genesis 3:8, NLT)
Adam and Eve’s initial response to sin was to hide from God. This spiritual separation remains the core problem of sin. - Broken Relationships
Adam blamed Eve, and later, Cain killed Abel. Sin disrupts relationships and fosters mistrust, anger, and violence. - Internal Turmoil
Shame and fear become part of our internal narrative. We often doubt our worth and God’s goodness, compounding the damage caused by sin.
“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”
(Romans 3:20, NLT)
The Law (like the Ten Commandments) acts like an antivirus that scans and reveals the presence of something corrupt—namely, sin. But it cannot fix the corruption; it can only diagnose it.
Jesus as the Solution
“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”
(1 John 3:8, NLT)
From the start of His public ministry, Jesus set out to “destroy the works of the devil”:
- Truth Over Lies
In the wilderness (Luke 4:1–13), Satan tried to tempt Jesus by twisting Scripture. Jesus responded with the true meaning of God’s Word, showing us that knowing Scripture is key to discerning truth from falsehood.“You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” (Luke 4:8, NLT) - Healing Over Sickness
Jesus healed physical illnesses and even raised the dead (Luke 7:11–17; Luke 8:49–56). By doing so, He demonstrated authority over the effects of sin, restoring people to wholeness. - Peace Over Fear
When the storm raged on the lake, Jesus calmed the wind and waves (Luke 8:22–25). This was more than a display of power; it showed that fear and chaos bow to Him. - Salvation Over Sin
Jesus offered forgiveness to sinners (Luke 7:36–50) and taught that trusting Him is the only way to be made right with God.“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
(Acts 4:12, NLT)
Restoring Trust in God
Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve chose not to trust in God’s goodness. Jesus came to rebuild our trust, showing us through His words and actions that:
- God is faithful like a loving Father.
- God is good and desires our best.
- God is for us, not against us.
The pattern is clear: trusting God dispels doubt and fear, leading to renewed hope and relationship. As Jesus Himself said,
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”
(John 14:9, NLT)
A Matter of Life and Death
All of us fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. We cannot fix our sin problem on our own; it’s only through trusting in Jesus—His death and resurrection—that we find salvation.
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9, NLT)
A Glimpse of the Future
Scripture ends with a promise that sin and Satan will one day be completely removed from creation.
“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ … ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’”
(Revelation 21:5, NLT)
“It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life…”
(Revelation 22:2, NLT)
Where sin once blocked access to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22–24), it will be restored for all who trust in God through Jesus.
Conclusion
Sin is the fundamental big problem that affects everyone, but Jesus is the fundamental big solution who destroys the works of the devil. By recognizing the lies we’ve believed and turning to the truth of God’s Word, we embrace a life set free from fear, shame, and separation. Trust in God is not a burden—it’s the pathway to joy, freedom, and eternal hope.
Will you trust Him today?
