April 21, 2020
Today is Tuesday. I normally take Tuesday off, but I
promised a follow up yesterday. (Thank you "K" ;)
To know how to detox from sin, we must understand what the
toxin is and how it works. How did the devil lure, entice, and seduce Eve? I am sol
glad you asked!!!
Genesis 3:6 describes the divide between eternal life and
physical and spiritual death. “The woman
saw that the tree was beautiful with delicious food and that the tree would
provide wisdom, so she took some of its fruit and ate it, and also gave some to
her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” [Genesis 3:6 CEB] The divide
occurs with disobedience.
Eve rated the tree
and its fruit as “beautiful.” Another way to put it, “it was a delight to the eyes.” [ESV] The eyes are a problem
because what you see is not always what it is. Magicians often fool the eye
with repetitive hand movements. They will toss a ball in the air several times,
then finally hold the ball while making the throwing motion. The mind will see
a ball in the air when there is really nothing. Eve’s imagination kicked into gear, giving her permission to disregard God’s word. Paul advised the
carnal minded Corinthian believers to break this habit, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” [2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT, CEB,
NIV, etc..]
Eve judged the fruit
of the tree as “delicious.” Once the imagination is ignited the cravings of
the body can be set in motion. In the world of fine dining there are three keys
to making a good meal according to one top chef: “presentation, presentation,
presentation.” If the eyes see an ordinary meal dressed up, the mind will
elevate the expected and possibly realized taste. Eve fell for a bait and
switch, she anticipated what the experience would be, and was conned out of a
loving relationship with her world, her husband, and her God. Throughout the Bible, when referring to God, the sequence is flipped. “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” [Psalm 34:8 NIV, NLT, BSB, ESV, KJV, CSB, ISV, etc…]
Eve, finally, determined
the fruit would give her the wisdom she desired. Once the cravings of the body
take hold, foolish desires kick into gear. The reasoning process has become interrupted
by the desires (craving, lust) of the eye and flesh. The mind is attacked. King
Solomon, who learned the hard way, advised, “Carefully
guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.” [Proverbs
4:23 CEV]
Our desires (cravings, lusts) expose, measure, and determine
the heart’s path. Point them in the right direction and we are safe. Allow ourselves
to be distracted, and we are into the ditch.
The toxin is sin. Genesis 3 is where John came up with the toxin's formula, “For the world offers only a
craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in
our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from
this world.” [1 John 2:16 NLT]
The power of desire
is the destruction of reality. What is left is a construct. Adam and Eve
already knew good and evil. To obey God is good. To disobey God is evil. They
had each other in a beautiful world, they had rightful stewardship of a
beautiful world, and they walked physically with God every day in a beautiful
world. What more could one want? The real desire (craving, lust) they fell to was
“…you will be like God…” [Genesis
3:5] Ever since this event, humans have either played god or tried to invented
a god (or gods). At that moment, in that act, catastrophe struck with one rebellious act.
Notice Adam was “with her” in Genesis
3:6. In the Hebrew, it means Adam was physically present during Eve’s conversation
with Satan. Adam failed to correct an error, raise an objection to a lie,
or take a big stick to the serpent. When Eve offered him the fruit, he ate. He ate
knowing he was violating the one, and only, law God had given him. He ate
knowing the consequences. Eve was tricked, Adam sinned willfully. Sin spread
like a plague with an 100% infection rate and an 100% mortality rate.
The consequences for Adam and the rest of humanity are
catastrophic. What are those catastrophic consequences? I’m glad you asked!!!
Tune in tomorrow.
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