Do you use a sock puppet to secretly keep track of your frenemies? Plan to spend your staycation watching vlogs and webisodes?” If you’re not sure what all that means, turn to the latest edition of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. The book of words has just added more than 100 new ones. Two new entries caught my attention: sock puppet and frenemies. A “sock puppet” is a false online identity used for deceptive purposes. A “frenemy” is someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy.
The words sock puppet and frenemy definitely describe Satan. The evil one came to Eve as a frenemy, telling her what a friend might say. “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). Don’t worry about the consequences. God is exaggerating. You won’t die! (Genesis 3:4). God is withholding something better from you! (Genesis 3:5).
The sock puppet misquoted God’s words to subtly cast doubt on His goodness. God’s command applied to only the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16-17)—not to all trees. “You won’t die!” was a direct challenge to what God had emphatically warned: “You are sure to die” (Genesis 2:17). Soon Eve, too, felt it was okay to modify God’s clear instruction: “You must not . . . even touch it” (Genesis 3:3).
Totally deceived, Adam and his wife chose to disregard God’s instructions and warnings. Their actions created eternal consequences for all creation—the birth of evil, the presence of sin, and death.
Satan is no friend. He’s a sock puppet and a frenemy. Speaking from personal experience (Luke 22:31-34), Peter warns: Satan is your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stay alert. Watch out! (1 Peter 5:8).
More:
• Acts 17:11
• 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15
• 2 Timothy 2:15
Next:
How have you been carefully studying the Scriptures to verify that what you’ve been taught is the truth? (Acts 17:11). Why is it vital that we don’t mishandle God’s Word?
R R Kelkar on June 25, 2010 at 3:20 am
K T Sim, you have rightly pointed out the dangers of tampering with God’s Word. Yet, this is what is happening now as more and more publishing firms bring out new versions of the Bible. Some versions put alternative words or expressions in brackets from which you can choose what you like best. Others tone down some of the phrases to take the hard-hitting punch out of the verses. It is true that the language of the older versions like the King James Version may not be appropriate in today’s world. But some of the new versions of the Bible, in the name of modernism, research and scholarship, are trying to put man’s word into God’s mouth, so that we hear only what is convenient for us. This is a very dangerous trend and we should be careful about what Bible we choose to read.
maryanneb47 on June 25, 2010 at 8:02 pm
R R Kelkar can you tell me if NIV(New International Version) is acceptable language? I hope it is because that’s what version I use to read and study God’s Word.
R R Kelkar on June 26, 2010 at 12:00 am
Yes, Maryanne, to my knowledge, it is. The New English Bible (NEB) and the New International Version (NIV) are the two modern Bible versions that I like to read and follow. Again in some NIV editions, there are long commentaries and short notes added to the text. It must be remembered that these are the editors’ views and the readers are free not to accept them.
Howard on June 25, 2010 at 4:20 am
Adam was not deceived, only Eve. Adam had his eyes wide open and should have protected his wife but he failed and freely entered her sin with her. 1 Timothy 2:14.
sarah anne on June 25, 2010 at 5:47 am
I always try to tell my children and especially my grandchildren that choices has consequences not only for themselves, but for others as well. It looks as if Adam and Eve did’nt think of anything at all but to eat the forbidden fruit, They did’nt think of the relationship they had with the Father, they just thought about what satan told them, and we their descendants of theirs does the same many atimes. we do not think! Adam is as much to blame if not more than Eve, because God told him first, Eve typical woman had to put her tail onto what was said in the first place, we love to add to things, why do we do that? I do not like all these new versions of the Bible, I love the kjv, better than any other version, it seems nowadays each church needs to have it’s own version. we should and mst be alert at all times, as apostle Peter says, the devil is like roaring lion, seeking who he can destroy. what I like about this verse, the devil is SEEKING who he can destroy. so let us be in prayer at all times let us wear the armour God the Father has given us, and let us be ever alert! it is not easy, for we are weak, but thank God for always being there when we need Him and call on His Name, in earnest. Amen, God Bless all the contributers to ODB and ODJ.
peg on June 25, 2010 at 6:34 am
I had a pastor once who said to always search the scriptures in regards to his sermons. Not to just accept that he was right. That was good advice. When we talk about God’s word we need to make sure what we are saying is accurate. Reading the scriptures and praying about what to say will help a lot.
donreid77 on June 25, 2010 at 8:02 am
I don’t think the intent of this devotion was to get into a discussion on various versions/translations of the Bible. I usually try to avoid these discussions because people have very strong opinions and a few words from me is not going to change anything one way or the other. The one comment that I will make is that I have tried to read exerpts from the 1611 KJV and find it almost impossible to do so. I am very thankful that Godly men have made it possible to have access to the scripture in a readable form.
hello on June 25, 2010 at 9:31 am
ya, i agree that for God’s bless the people to enable them to write in different version. so that people from different level able to understand.
Noe Meo on June 25, 2010 at 10:48 am
God bless RBC ministries!