The Nearsighted Devil

The Nearsighted Devil

Genesis 3:1-10

Purpose: To put life into proper "focus" -- it is not limited to the grave --

Intro: My nearsightedness; my glasses were broken and I couldn’t see beyond the end of my nose -- While in the Navy, I was in charge of getting the barracks cleaned before inspection. When I checked the barracks floor, it really looked clean to me; but we failed inspection.

I. CHANGE OF VISION

A. Subtle = shrewd, cunning (v.1)

B. Strongest tool = God’s Word

1. Ignorance

a. Did God really say... (v.1)

b. but God did say... (v3)

c. For God knows...(v.5)

And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ...

And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." -- 2:9,16,17

2. Divisions - chapters, verses

C. Physical realm - grave (v.4)

1. Death of body Matt. 4:1-11

2. Appeal to senses (v.6)Jesus’ Temptation

a. Appetite Pleasure Stone-bread

b. Vanity Pride Pinnacle-Angels

c. Power Power Mount-Kingdoms

D. Spiritual realm - Beyond the grave

1. Eternal life

2. Freedom of choice

II. LACK OF VISION

A. Separation from God (v.6)

1. Shame - self-judgment (v.7)

2. Hiding - self-punishment (v.8)

B. Confrontation with God (v.9)

1. "Passing the buck" (v.12)

a. Product of environment

b. Peer pressure

2. "Coming to grips"

a. Honesty pays

b. God judges

III. CORRECTION OF VISION

A. Curses - Coffin

1. On serpent - put in place (v.14)

2. On man - price to pay

B. Cross - Christ

1. Bruise his heel - crucifixion

2. Bruise (crush) thy head - resurrection

C. Clothing - Atonement (v.21

1. Sins forgotten - clean heart

2. Protection promised - clean start

-- Barracks floor and new glasses -- I had declared the floor clean before I was called in to pick up my new glasses. After getting them and coming back and looking at the floor, I could see that it was dirty with stuff I couldn’t see before. My focus had been extended beyond the end of my nose to the floor. I could see why we failed inspection.

Concl: By becoming acquainted with God’s plan of redemption through His Word, the Bible, we enable Him to bring our lives into "focus."