Flip Wilson was a comedian who appeared often on TV shows in the 60s and 70s of the last century. “The devil made me do it” was a line that he worked into his routine from time to time on a comedy show and it was greeted with a lot of laughter because he would say it with a big grin on his face.
Mr. Wilson was not the first one to use that line. Those words were first spoken not on a comedy show but in a drama that had eternal consequences.
They were spoken by Eve after her husband Adam tried to blame her for disobeying the clear commandment of God that they should not eat of the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden. Read about that sad event in Genesis 3. It was the original sin and neither Adam or Eve wanted to own up to it that it was their decision and they followed through on their decision.
Adam tried to shift the responsibility to Eve and she tried to blame the devil. But God did not accept their attempt. He told both of them individually what the consequences of their action would mean for them.
In their presence God told the devil that there would be enmity between the devil and the woman’s descendants, and then one of the woman’s descendants would crush the head of the devil. It was the clear promise of the Messiah who by His death on the cross would destroy death and provide forgiveness of sin for all people, including Adam and Eve.
Instead of trying to blame somebody else or anything else for our sin, God teaches us to confess our sin to Him and receive His forgiveness.
The promise is plain that God so loved the world that He gave his only son that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life.
The person who commits sin and admits sin has the forgiveness of sin. The person who tries to blame somebody else still is guilty but does not have forgiveness.
Life is not an endless comedy routine with dire consequences. Life that takes God’s word seriously looks forward to eternal joy.
Elmer Schiefer
Pastor, Family of Christ Lutheran Church
elmer@myglobalemail.com
573-529-0584
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