“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat†(Genesis 3:6).
Most of us are familiar with the story of Eve’s sin. If only it had stopped with temptation, but she yielded. When we are faced with temptation, the same components involved with Eve’s are true when we sin. These are “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life†(1 John 2:16).
God shouldn’t have had to put a sign on the tree to keep Eve or Adam away. In spite of what she was told, Eve listened to the voice of the devil, who was disguised as a serpent. Not just any old snake but one that didn’t look one bit scary. As much as we never want to give Satan credit, he can make himself be anything he needs to be, especially when we are vulnerable. God had provided a perfect environment filled with every kind of tree, from which Eve or Adam could eat. However, Eve went beyond temptation when she plucked fruit off the forbidden one. She disobeyed God and, to make matters worse, she gave some of the fruit to her husband. How sweet it might have seemed for her to want to please him by sharing such delicious fruit. Poor Eve! She was so clueless about the consequences of her sin. Little did Eve and Adam realize how much of an impact their sin would have on all mankind. “Wherefore as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin and so sin passed upon all men, for that all have sinned†(Romans 5:12).
Unless we learn to resist the devil, we may not only suffer in the life to come, but on earth as well. The weapons we can use are prayer and Bible study. We are in a daily battle against Satan. It was one Eve lost by giving in to temptation. Don’t become a casualty by following her example.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the CMP team ministering in Southern France, May 13-27.
