Scripture
17To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,” cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.’” Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV)

Wow… Talk about serious consequences, right?!

Temptation is as old as the Garden of Eden, and we know how that turned out. We could analyze the fallout from Eve’s decisions that day because we are knee-deep in it with every sunrise and sunset. Instead, let’s talk about the tempter.

The Bible tells us this creature was crafty, cunning and—later—that its name was Satan: infamous for his dishonesty and lack of forthrightness. The Devil’s deceptive talents ran deep that day. He framed God as the lame fun police. The result? An apple in Eve’s hand, then Adam’s.

Sister, we understand Eve. We all face Eden-like decision-making moments daily. We hear whispers of deceit and temptation today, just as Eve did on the day that changed creation. The Devil’s half-truths are appealing, but they are lies in disguise. Taking a bite of what tempts us has consequences. So, it can be easy to sit in judgment of Eve and think, “Well, I would have never…” Yet, we have, and we do.

Who does it hurt if that grocery item under your cart got accidentally missed and you take it home instead of going back inside to pay for it? It only takes an hour to write your daughter’s scholarship essay; why wouldn’t you take this tiny stressor off her shoulders? What’s one more cocktail before you drive home?

The final act of this biblical tale is not Adam and Eve’s eviction notice from Eden. God knew before it happened that humanity would need a hero to right all of our wrong choices, including Eve’s. We needed a Savior, and His name is Jesus.

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