Lesson 242: "A Moment of Pleasure"
When (or if) you are tempted to take your eyes off of God for just one moment of pleasure, you need to remember Eve. One would never expect there to be so much sin and so severe a consequence in eating a little piece of fruit. And you would be right in your thinking. The sin was not in eating the fruit but rather in the disobedience of God’s direct command; “You are free to eat from any tree in the Garden; but you must NOT eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). Just a side note here to take notice of the Words God used; He said “when” and not “if” knowing that Eve would indeed eat of the tree. This takes us to the promise God made in the New Testament; “But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out” (1 Cor. 10:13). God did provide Adam and Eve a way out but not without consequence and discipline, giving the man a weedy farm and the woman painful childbirth all because of one moment of pleasure. It was not like Eve misunderstood since she told the serpent God’s exact Words; “God said ‘you must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the Garden or you will die’” (Gen. 3:3). She chose to eat the forbidden fruit as did Adam. Satan tricked Eve into thinking that God did NOT really mean what He said by adding one little word; “you will NOT surely die”!
Many of us have heard these same kinds of subtle lies from the devil. One beer will NOT make you drunk! Wine is just a dinner beverage and NOT alcohol! Sex is a normal, healthy human act and NOT wrong among the unmarried! If we are telling the “truth” about someone it is NOT gossip! We can love someone with the love of Christ but NOT like them! Notice the devil adds this one little word without flags or fanfare. “Now the serpent (Satan) subtle than any of the wild animals” (Gen. 3:1); Dictionary definition for subtle: delicately skillful; crafty; NOT obvious. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who after (and sometimes during) this moment of pleasure will prick our conscience, hearts and minds so that we might be convicted (John 16:8) and turn away from the father of lies and deceit (John 10:10, 8:44).
The devil does not tempt you into making one mistake and then go away, satisfied that you have tasted sin and will continue in his ways. No! He will be your constant companion for as long as you indulge in the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and lust of the pride of life (Gen. 3:6, 1 John 3:16). Before we put all the blame on Eve, notice that “she gave also unto her husband WITH HER” showing Adam was most likely beside her but kept silent, making the mistake we all make when we see a brother/sister heading toward sin and say nothing to warn them (Eze. 3:18, James 5:20). We are to look out for each other and love one another and be at peace with others (1 Thess 4:9, 18, 5:11-15).
Adam and Eve saw that they had sinned and wanted to hide from God (Gen3:7-10). In the same way there are some today who sin and try to hide not only from God but also from the “godly”. Christians, do not let this happen! “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, bearing one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:1-2). We are also to hold each other accountable for our actions. When we were kids we acted better when our parents were watching; students act better when the teacher is in the room; Christians act better in the presence of other Christians. Why? Because we know we will have to account to them for our actions. In light of this knowledge, seems we would strive to “be good” at all times knowing we must give account to the God who knows all things (1 John 3:20, Matt. 12:36).
Adam coined the phrase; “passing the buck” when he told God that Eve gave him the fruit of the tree and Eve followed suit saying the serpent tempted her to eat (Gen. 3:12-13). Regardless of how many hold us accountable, until we realize that we are to blame for our own sins we will never do anything to resolve the problem and fearfully that moment of pleasure might well turn into a week, the week into a month and the month into a year. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 15:12). God wrote a Book for us to follow and the rules are simple! Believe or not! Believe and live eternally with Christ in Heaven or do not believe and spend eternity in hell with Satan.
BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BE SAVED