Wednesday 16 September, 2015

Looking with fresh eyes today on the process that Adam and Eve go through in their journey from temptation to sin, I am confronted with how similar this process is when I face temptations in my own world!

First in verse 1, there is an idea that questions the truth. Here in this scripture it comes from the devil, but it doesn’t always. Our own fallen nature and the world can also come up with ideas that call God’s truth and authority into question.

Next there is some resistance to sin. Eve dialogues with the serpent, but Adam doesn’t support her even though we later find he was with her. We need to support one another and be accountable to one another, especially husbands and wives.

Then there is a lie that eve accepts, but not only that. The thing that was previously forbidden now looks very appealing. There even seems to be wisdom in taking of it. In order for me as a Christian to give in to temptation, I have to believe a lie. Innocently or not, if I held to the truth that God has given to me 100% of the time, temptation would be dealt with by truth. I’m not saying that I’ll ever be able to conquer sin in this life, but the fact is that I’m choosing it when I do fall.

After sin comes shame (fig leaves to try to hide the shame) and guilt and fear (hiding from God, avoiding the consequences of actions).

Lord, my sin is abhorrent to you. It is so bad that your Son had to die so that I could be right with you again. Thank you for today giving me an insight into the process of sin so that I can better resist temptation.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware