It happens to the best of us. Something (although at times it’s someone) captures our hearts. The Bible counsels us to guard our hearts and for good reasons. What about the fruit, which she knew was off limits, caused her to throw caution to the wind and end up in such a mess?

There were three things: She saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. She really wanted the last item because she was led to believe that gaining wisdom would make her like God. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

John writes in 1st John about the lust (or desire) of the eyes, the lust (or desire) of the flesh, and the pride of life. I see this pattern in Eve’s decision to eat the fruit. I see the same pattern in my life, too.

Eve saw it was good for food (the flesh) and looked pleasing (eyes). She also saw it was desirable to make one wise (that’s the pride of life). Maybe John was thinking of this account when he penned his letter.

Eve drove down that road of mistrust and disobedience, but the destination was not what she thought it would be. She was led to believe that eating the fruit would open her and Adam’s eyes and make them “like” God, but the reality was not as advertised.

Yes, their eyes were opened, but as one commentator points out, they were very disappointed. What they saw was that they were naked and unfit to encounter God. So, they hid.

If we are honest, these three things drive us. They drive us to question God, cross boundaries (which are protections) God has set, and head down a road to destruction. We are happily behind the wheel the whole time—until we aren’t. Once we discover the actual destination, the reality sinks in. We’ve been duped! We’ve been duped by the one who desires to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

How often are you “pulled” away by something that looks good, or feels good, or strokes your ego?

What will it take for us to realize the enemy has excellent marketing, but the product is hell? What can we do? Confessing that we follow a similar path allows us to stop and choose a different path. We can choose to follow the one who gives us life and life abundant (John 10:10 again). By the way, the one who does that is Jesus.

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/