Murderer

"You will not die," Genesis 3:4.

Says who? The serpent in Eden's garden. To whom? to the woman and the man. Against whom? Against God. Against God, who had said, If you eat from this tree you'll die. Yeah, then the serpent went on to say: In fact, if you eat it, you'll be right smart just like God. So. Who ya gonna believe? Well, here we are. Right smart as God (not!). Can't figure out how to stop wars that nobody wants. How to make phones that don't get obsolete. Can't figure out how to stop ocean pollution. How to make climate do what we want. How to stop disease. How to live and not die. Yes, mainly that. Jesus, tons of years later, said of that devil serpent: He's a murderer, he's a liar and he's like the lies he tells.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, we confess Jesus our only hope for life beyond death. And, together, we believe God when he tells us that we may life through faith in his son.