The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”-Genesis 3:4-5
I once heard a pastor say something quite profound and quite accurate.
He pointed out that there are ONLY two religions in the world.
One is that man is or can become God.
The other one is that ONLY God is God.
When I first heard this, I thought it was an oversimplification.
But then after thinking about it carefully, I realized he was right.
In a broad sense, every religion in the world fits into one of those categories, including atheism.
Religions that teach that man can become a god are generally very works based. They will tell you that you have unlimited potential that only needs to be tapped into and they appeal to your ego.
This is exactly how Satan tempted Eve in the garden.
First, the tree itself was very beautiful.
It had an alluring quality to it, similar to how expensive jewelry is very appealing to the eyes.
And when the devil told Eve…
…”For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and YE SHALL BE AS GODS, knowing good and evil”
…the temptation was too much for her.
This was what finally tipped Eve over the edge and caused her to reach out and eat from the tree.
The opportunity to become a god herself, independent and free from the Father was just too tempting for her.
I’ve noticed that followers of “Man-can-become-God” religions tend to have prideful egos (even if disguised under a vail of false humility) and are quick to envy others.
On the other hand, when we realize that who we are and all that we have come from God and when we surrender to the Biblical truth that we are NOT Gods, nor will we ever be Gods, it results in an instant and healthy humility.
This truth is also quite liberating.
It frees me from my ego trips (which get the better of me from time to time) and allows me to be more relaxed.
Let go and let God!
The teaching that man can become a God is at the heart of new age teaching and secular humanism.
Mormonism also teaches this Satanic doctrine.
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Satan mixes the truth with a lie. His lie was ‘Thou surely will not die.’