She had everything: spiritual peace, eternal security within an intimate relationship with God, the perfect husband, good health – perfect health – a beautiful home, all of her needs provided for. She had everything. What did she lack? Was there something else out there, anything else? Of course, by now I am sure you realize I am talking about Eve, the mother of all living.
Yes, she had everything, but with the lying hiss of the serpent, our mother, Eve, was deceived. She thought she had found the only thing she lacked. God knew something she did not know. Perhaps it was the best thing to know. At least, that was what the serpent had told her. He had insisted that God had not been entirely honest with her, and now she had her doubts.
“What would be wrong with eating that fruit?” she asked herself. To her eyes, it looked wonderful and tasty. And according to the serpent, with just one bite of it she would achieve complete fulfillment, complete wisdom! Oh, how she wanted to be so very wise! So she thought to herself, “Why not just do it? What harm could there possibly be?” So she brought the fruit to her mouth and took a bite of it. It did taste good! So she grabbed some more of the fruit of that tree and took it to her husband, Adam. And as she did so, she succumbed to temptation, just as the Apostle John would write centuries later: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16 [RSV]).
Adam looked at her, and then he looked at that fruit she held out so temptingly in her hand. He listened as she told him how the serpent had said they could eat of the fruit of the tree, how they should eat of it, for it would make them as wise as God! Although Adam was not beguiled by the words of the serpent, he was not deceived, but went willingly into sin, he loved his wife, and he took and ate of the forbidden fruit. It is admirable that Adam loved his wife, it is always admirable when a man loves his wife, and is willing to sacrifice himself for her . . . but he should never do so at the expense of God. God should always come first. Adam should have placed his Father, the Lord, above His wife, and trusted in Him. Adam should have been the spiritual leader of his household, just as he requires all husbands and fathers to be the spiritual leaders of their homes.
Although Adam failed at that moment, all was not lost. God, indeed, loved the people He created so much that He immediately set about to implement His plan of redemption for fallen mankind. He created man in His image, and in the image of man He would send His Son to sacrifice Himself for all of our sins.
May the Lord bless you!
Yes, she had everything, but with the lying hiss of the serpent, our mother, Eve, was deceived. She thought she had found the only thing she lacked. God knew something she did not know. Perhaps it was the best thing to know. At least, that was what the serpent had told her. He had insisted that God had not been entirely honest with her, and now she had her doubts.
“What would be wrong with eating that fruit?” she asked herself. To her eyes, it looked wonderful and tasty. And according to the serpent, with just one bite of it she would achieve complete fulfillment, complete wisdom! Oh, how she wanted to be so very wise! So she thought to herself, “Why not just do it? What harm could there possibly be?” So she brought the fruit to her mouth and took a bite of it. It did taste good! So she grabbed some more of the fruit of that tree and took it to her husband, Adam. And as she did so, she succumbed to temptation, just as the Apostle John would write centuries later: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16 [RSV]).
Adam looked at her, and then he looked at that fruit she held out so temptingly in her hand. He listened as she told him how the serpent had said they could eat of the fruit of the tree, how they should eat of it, for it would make them as wise as God! Although Adam was not beguiled by the words of the serpent, he was not deceived, but went willingly into sin, he loved his wife, and he took and ate of the forbidden fruit. It is admirable that Adam loved his wife, it is always admirable when a man loves his wife, and is willing to sacrifice himself for her . . . but he should never do so at the expense of God. God should always come first. Adam should have placed his Father, the Lord, above His wife, and trusted in Him. Adam should have been the spiritual leader of his household, just as he requires all husbands and fathers to be the spiritual leaders of their homes.
Although Adam failed at that moment, all was not lost. God, indeed, loved the people He created so much that He immediately set about to implement His plan of redemption for fallen mankind. He created man in His image, and in the image of man He would send His Son to sacrifice Himself for all of our sins.
May the Lord bless you!
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