Yesterday we focused on the clever tactical maneuver of the devil getting us to question or rethink what God has said. Today let us consider another. A second tactical maneuver he used with Eve was to get her to focus on the forbidden fruit. Here was the attempt to appeal to her senses.
Note Eve’s focus where we read. . .
“(6) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 ESV)
If sin looked bad who would want it? People get caught up in sin because it appeals to the senses in some way. Often the first mistake is to keep looking. Eve looked. She noticed it was appealing to the appetite. She also noticed it looked good. She was drawn as well by what appeared to be a great benefit; the gaining of wisdom.
Did you note that nowhere in the text did Satan ever tell her to go ahead and eat it? He seems to know if he can just get us to focus on some things long enough, the desires will get us to move the rest of the way. And that is exactly the light in which James placed temptation.
We read. . .
“(13) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:13-15 ESV)
Be careful what the focus becomes fixed on. If there are some situations, places, anything that takes the focus away from what God desires, let us not go there or look there. Let us not test our strength. Let us not play with fire. Let us not chance getting burned. Let us not create the opportunity to be led astray. May we keep the focus on God and His way in order to be continually drawn closer to Him.
Have a great day FOCUSED ON THE TRULY GOOD!
Carl
