I love chocolate and whenever I walk into the grocery store, I have to consciously trust myself not to pick a bar. Chocolate isn’t bad in itself but if I continue to consume it excessively, I might have to deal with extra calories. The presence of chocolate is therefore a temptation I have to deal with each time I visit the grocery store. I love the taste of chocolate and whenever I consume chocolate, I feel good. The fact that we feel good about something does not mean it is good for us. Every day, we have to navigate life cautious of the things that tempt us and try to steer us away from our focus. Temptation isn’t new to our generation. As early as the Garden of Eden, the devil tempted earth’s earliest inhabitants causing them to lose their relationship with God. Eve, the woman taken out of man, had a conversation with the crafty serpent and at the end of the day, the entire human race was affected by the consequences of that one conversation. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:6) God had commanded man not to eat from the tree of good and evil. However, like the chocolate that constantly remains at the checkout desk of the grocery store, the tree of good and evil was in the middle of the Garden of Eden. Eve was aware of the consequences of disobeying God but the serpent told her: “You will not certainly 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.”(Genesis 3:4-5). “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:6) Eve was tempted by her physical needs and the desire to satisfy her cravings (lust of the flesh). Eve saw that the fruit was good and pleasing to the eyes (lust of the eye). Lastly, Eve was moved to eat the forbidden fruit because it was desirable to gain wisdom (pride of life). Eve did not eat the fruit alone, she gave some to Adam and both sinned against God. During the temptation of Jesus, Satan presented the same kind of narrative: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (Matthew 4:1-11). However Jesus overcame His temptation. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” For every temptation we face, God has provided an appian way. You can choose to engage the tempter in conversation like Eve or tell the tempter: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10) Eve teaches us to stay away from temptations and its eternal consequences. The Psalmist said that, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers (Psalms 1:1). Don’t walk in step with that which could tempt you. Don’t even stand and engage it in conversation. Better still, don’t take a seat… be a Joseph! Flee from the temptation and save your soul. Before you blame Eve for the woes of humanity, just ask yourself these questions: “Have you ever failed to do what is right? “Have you ever disobeyed any command?” Have you ever done what you were warned never to do?”
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