God said--

Gen 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you shall surely die.”     
Satan said- Gen 3:1—“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
Eve said—Gen 3:3 –“But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it.’”
Satan said- Gen3:4 “You will not surely die.”
 
            Satan loves when the word of God is changed just a little. A word here, a phrase there is all it takes to change what is actually said. A tiny seed of doubt can change a perspective on what the word of God says. If faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, what can the tiny seed of doubt do to a person’s faith and trust in the Lord?                                                                                        
     When I was much younger, we played a game of ‘gossip’. One person would start the game by whispering a statement. By the time it got to the end of the line, what had been said at the beginning had little or nothing to do with what was said at the end.                                        
     
     A prayer request was sent down the phone lines with a concern for an ‘incurable’ but benign health issue. By the time it got to the last person on the list, the medical problem became ‘fatal’. One word had changed the whole prayer concern. Luckily, the person being prayed about did survive the prayer.  
                     
      We can make a big difference in how we present the word of the Lord by taking something out of context or changing a word or two ‘just to make a point better’. God is capable of writing His message of hope and salvation without us rewording it. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His word never changes. It is new every morning, yet it is unchanging. What I have read countless times (and didn’t really sink in), suddenly is like a huge spotlight that answers my problem.                                                            

      We have many versions of the Bible. Some are easier to read than others. When studying God’s word, a search of different versions can clarify the meaning. A good Bible dictionary helps also. I also like a Bible handbook.                                                                                                               
     God does not appreciate how His word is changed. He gives warnings that express His feelings on the matter. While the following verses may relate to the Revelation, I believe they also relate to the rest of God’s word.
           
      Rev 22:18, 19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophesy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
           
     God has paid a very high price for us. He paid the ultimate price to give us the privilege of eternal life, of living in Christ and Him in us. His word is a love letter 66 books long and as deep as the universe. Trust in Him to know how to say what He wants us to say. He will gives us the right words at the right time. We can’t add to His wisdom and love.

Isaiah 45:2, 3 I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, Who summons you by name.

Ps 112:4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them and make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them.

For many years, I did not understand what the Lord could mean by the “treasures of darkness”. Then I spent time in the ‘darkness’ when I could not see my way ahead. There were days when I wondered why the Lord would allow so much pain and confusion in my life. I thought when I became a Christian, that my way would always be clear and understandable. I thought the Lord would always show me huge road signs letting me know which direction I was to go.
I sat under spiritual leadership at that time that said if you have faith, nothing bad would happen. I was too young in the faith to understand that that is not taught in the Word. The Word teaches us that in this world we will have tribulation but that the Lord has overcome the world.
We will have difficult days when it seems there is a huge black cloud between us and the Lord. We will have days when we are feeling like the blind leading the blind, when the unfamiliar paths that we tread are rough and crooked. Those paths will feel like the valley of the shadow of death.  But we serve a God of great compassion. He walks those paths with us. He has promised to be in the purifying fires with us. He will be the Rock we can stand on in the roaring rivers of tribulation. He will be the stream of living water when we are in the desert times. 

What I have learned in my dark times is that the Lord is always with me. He will never leave me alone in the darkness. He will shine a light of love into the darkness even when I am too blinded by focusing on myself and not Him. He will show me patience and compassion until I am able to see beyond the circumstances and focus on Him once again.

My treasures of darkness have been the solid knowledge that I can trust the Lord even when I don’t understand His ways or plans. I can count on Him even when all my prayers feel like they are bouncing off the ceiling. I can stand on His promises even when I hurt or am confused about where to turn next. 
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But my greatest treasure is the developing of my faith in a God who is steadfast and unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I know that I will always have access to the throne room of the Creator of the Universe. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I will be welcomed with great joy into the presence of the Most High God. I know that I can share my fears, triumphs over the enemy and my joys with Him. I know that I am treasured and loved.

Romans 12:1, 2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view
of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.  

Philippians 4:7,8 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.

One of the problems in today's media is the over abundance of foul language, even in commercials. When you try to watch a show with your kids, you never know when there will
be things which will be detrimental to their minds. Shows that feature death, violence and sexual scenes are rampant. They don't fit into what Paul is instructing us to fill our minds.
When we 'transform' our minds, that means to change from the inside out. We are to change what is being implanted
into our thoughts. We are to be very selective of what we allow our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our minds to remember.  We can become what Jesus wants us to be. We can choose to have the mind of Christ. We can transform our thoughts.  

When the enemy plants thoughts that are not pleasing to Christ, we can choose to wash them from our mind by speaking God's word. When someone whispers words of gossip to share with others, think about the harm those words can cause, especially if they are laced with untruths or even all out lies.  Replace those words with compliments, even if you  really have to work on thinking of something. Pass on these lovely,  noble, praiseworthy words to someone else about that person. Set  an example for others. Kill the gossip and give life to healing words.  Be the reflection of Jesus to the people around you that may give them eternal life. Transform your mind and then transform your 
world.

1Cor 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as
in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

2Cor 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His 
likeness with everlasting glory, which comes from the Lord,
Who is the Spirit.

James 1:22-23 Do not merely listen to the word,
and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who 
listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a
man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at
himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks
like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law
that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting
what he has heard, but doing it---he will be blessed in what
he does.

James reminds us that God's word is like a mirror placed in front of us. He tells us that if we study and listen to the word and meditate on it, we will begin to see ourselves  as we are. We will also begin to see ourselves as God sees us. Not just as we are, but what, with His help, we can be.  We must do the things the word tells us to do. We can become strong and secure in the word and confident that what He has begun in us, He will complete. We are assured that God doesn't lie. He will guide our lives into a better way. He will lead us in the paths of righteousness. He will help us to soar when we allow Him to be the wind beneath our wings.

Our part of the plan is to be obedient, to study to show ourselves approved. We can begin to reflect His grace and beauty when we look into the mirror of God's word. The day will come when we will no longer see through a glass darkly but will see clearly what the Lord is like and what He
wants us to be like. 

Moses, after seeing God, had to wear a veil over his face for he reflected God's glory and frightened the people. We, as children of God, have our eyes veiled by our preconceptions and lifestyles. That veil can be removed if we commit ourselves to Jesus and His word.  

When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom so that we have free access to the Holy of Holies. The veil was removed as a barrier to the access of God. So, too, is the veil removed that prevents us from a better understanding of God and His word.  The veil of unbelief and disinterest causes us to hear but not do. The veil that hides understanding of His word can be removed with prayer and a deep desire to do and be what He wills us to do and be. 

When we look deeply into the mirror of God's word, and desire above all else to reflect the Lord, we will begin to see more clearly. We will look beyond the physical  to the eternal. We will no longer see the temporal things,  but will see God's reflection in our lives. We will begin to reflect the glory of the Lord. 

What a beautiful promise He has given us. We will stand in the glory and majesty of the Lord, clothed in grace and mercy. We will be the beautiful bride, spending eternity with Christ.