We all know of the story of the Garden of Eden. We understand that Eve was deceived, but let's talk about how subtle that deception was. Whether you are a Bible believing Christian or not, let's open our hearts to the following.

The devil (aka the serpent) asked, "Did God really say: You should not eat of any tree of the garden?" This well crafted question was his way in. When she clarified what God actually said, that they could eat from ANY tree, except that particular one,“for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die”, the serpent responded, "you will not surely die! For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Well the serpent gave a half truth, and a half truth is a whole lie.‍

This question and these words spoken to Eve planted the first seed of doubt. The serpent attacked God’s character and Word by twisting it. Yes, it may 'open' our eyes to some things, but blind us to God’s goodness and protection. So is it worth it? These types of subtle questions and confident-sounding statements from the serpent(s) in our lives slither into our consciousness every single day, fostering doubt, curiosity and leading to temptations. Eve took that information, and decided (with her own understanding) that the fruit was good to eat. I know from experience just how cleverly we can justify anything. We create our own truths, rather than leaning on God’s truth. The beautiful and the dangerous thing about belief is that it’s in our nature to want to share it with others. That’s what Eve did as she immediately shared the fruit (and this new knowledge/belief) with Adam. Some of these things may momentarily gratify us, make us feel powerful, seen, understood, at ease, etc..The question we should ALWAYS ask ourselves is, where does this lead me... and whose truth am I heeding? We learn over time that leaning on these false truths does in fact lead to death (as God had said from the very start).

🌻 It’s much easier to deceive someone who doesn’t have a firm foundation, but even people who literally walked alongside God were tricked! We should never think we’re above deception. We are better off always seeking God for confirmation and wisdom.‍

Deception by Design

My grandaunt, Aunt Gleeda Forbes, started a Christian school in the Cayman Islands, which was then purchased by the Seventh Day Adventist mission. Her passion and work was a key foundation to what is now known as Cayman Academy School.

Aunt Gleeda didn't have any kids, but she cared for many. The school quickly grew to around 200 students in just 3 years. While Aunt Gleeda held it down in Cayman, my grandmother (her sister) mama Doris went to live in Cuba with my grandfather, where they had 7 kids (my dad, aunts and uncles). Although mama Doris instilled Christian values in them, they experienced a major curveball when Fidel Castro came into power in 1959. My dad was just 9 years old during this political shift. He can clearly recall that Castro's first order of business was the closing of borders and the closing of the churches. He ordered for Bibles to not be sold (this included taking the Bibles that people already owned away from their homes). The regime was in full effect. The way he controlled the population was to take away their religion, or to corrupt it (just as the serpent corrupted God’s words to Eve). Interestingly, Castro only allowed the spiritualists (santeria) to operate freely at that time, as he likely didn't see them as a threat. He also ensured every household had a television. It was only one channel which broadcasted government news and his speeches for hours without any breaks. The repetitive language and constant fear-mongering became the people's new truth. Indoctrination was at play.

🌻 Two completely different realities divided my family bloodline as Christ was being taught to many kids in Cayman, while the Christian faith was being stifled in Cuba. There is a bright side though: Even if God’s word is stripped away from us as children, there is still hope for reconciliation.

Into the Darkness

Although my parents didn't follow the santeria traditions while they were living in Cuba, they were surrounded by it until they finally were able to move to Cayman. My dad was in his early 30's when he came to the island. He brought my mom and my sister over shortly after, then I was born in Cayman. They didn't have a strong spiritual foundation coming from Cuba, so I didn't learn about God from them. My aunt Rita (may she rest in peace), was the one who instilled in me, my big sister, and our cousin, the habit of bedtime prayers. I sometimes attended church youth groups with my cousins, but that didn't last long. When I was about 9 years old, I had a really bad accident during one of those youth groups. While playing on a basketball court, my cousin and one of the bigger kids decided to race each other. The boy accidentally ran right into me and I fell back and hit my head on the concrete💥. I immediately [◾blacked out◾]. An ambulance came and my dad followed us to the hospital. So much chaos happened outside of my consciousness, yet I only remember waking up at home in my parent's comfy bed, surrounded by my family's love. That’s all I knew, and that’s all that mattered. On the other hand, this experience traumatized my mom, so I didn't continue going to church after that. I subconsciously learned that the church was not a safe nor relevant space in my life😔.

🌻 Pattern: My dad and I stopped going to church when we were both around 9 years old because of external factors. His was due to political reasons from Fidel Castro’s leadership, and mine was from a traumatic experience, which led to isolation. Many times, our departure from the faith may not even be our decision, but we do have the power and authority to overturn that decision as we grow older!

Seeking

So what does a child do when they're not connected to the body of Christ? WE EXPLORE. Whenever I wasn't with my family, I just entertained myself. I created many inner worlds via daydreaming and acting out random scenarios. Fast forward to my teenage years and early adulthood - rebellion had consumed me. I searched for my comfort and identity through 2 long-term unhealthy relationships, social media, and new age spirituality. Without guidance, I was undoubtedly following whatever the world offered me, and I also didn't respect any form of authority. I thought I knew best and that “this fruit was good”. I would have never realized how lost I was if I hadn’t called out to God during my most vulnerable moment in 2022. I was actually STILL [◾blacked-out◾], in a different way. So this time I ‘woke up’ in a different way. It was me, my tears, and God in my bedroom. It wasn't my family's love around me as I gained back consciousness, this time I was surrounded by God's love and I’m sure the angels were rejoicing. That’s all I knew, and that’s all that mattered. Although it took my dad 68 years, and it took me 20 years to return to Christ, it also happened with a split-second decision!

🌻 We hold the key. We need to unlock the door from within. Jesus is literally waiting on the other side for us to allow Him in.

You shall surely LIVE!

We only need the Tree of Life - aka Jesus Christ Himself. I speak from experience that spiritual death is a different type of black-out which will leave us confused and ashamed. But God restores us. Apart from God, we are blind to the foolishness of this world. We are deceived and distracted. When the rulers of darkness try desperately to take you or your children away from THE truth, we must press in through prayer and obedience to God's Word. We need to especially take care of the young and the vulnerable by planting seeds of truth everywhere we go. The reality is these seeds are very likely to be uprooted by the roaming serpents, but if we continue planting them, we can rest in knowing that God makes it grow at the right time!

🌻 To the people who were planting seeds in the garden around me, thank you so much🥹!!! Your obedience provoked my curiosity towards the right direction.

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_{2 Corinthians 3:8 (NLT):}

_{So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.}

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Self-Reflection Prompts

1. ^{Reflect on a time when curiosity led you into temptation. What were the consequences?}
2. ^{Who or what has the greatest impact on your beliefs and decisions? Do you know if these influences leading you closer to truth and goodness, or are they leading you astray?}
3. ^{Have you ever experienced a moment of awakening or realization? What triggered this awakening, and how did it transform your perspective or beliefs?}
4. ^{Reflect on the concept of spiritual warfare. In what ways do you see the forces of good and evil at play in your life and in the world around you? How do you actively engage in this spiritual battle?}
5. ^{Consider the importance of planting seeds of truth. How can you be intentional about sharing your faith and influencing others for good in your daily interactions?}