Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 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, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
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. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Can we be perfectly honest here for a minute? I am 90% sure I would have eaten the fruit. I’m not one to go along with peer pressure most of the time, but I think the serpent would have outsmarted me. His sly ways would have “hooked” me when he uttered, “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” I’m pretty sure I would have fallen straight into temptation, wanting to me like God and knowing good and evil.
We are all tempted on a daily basis, from food to money to possessions, to gossip, to whatever sin might “call your name,” temptation is everywhere. Friends, it all started there in the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve did what you and I would do today. They hid, they played the blame game, they did everything but say “we’re sorry Lord.” We are in a different place than Adam and Eve, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we can ask for forgiveness and be granted it. We aren’t banned from our homes, our lives, or our families because of our sin; we have been given the greatest gifts ever – forgiveness and eternal life. But we must not take these for granted. We must make sure we confess our sins and do our best to turn away from sin. So the next time the serpent slithers your way, turn your eyes immediately to Christ and leap out of the way.
Forgiving Father, we are all sinners. Because of Your love for us, we have freedom and forgiveness in Christ. Help us to turn away from our sinful natures and to put our focus on You. Give us peace, wisdom, and the forgiveness that only You can grant. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.