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All of us know Eve, the first woman who ever lived, the wife of Adam. The whole world today accuses her of bringing sin and pain and suffering on women. Many of us say if it was not because of her listening to the serpent then we would not suffer in childbirth. Maybe it is true, but what happened to her can happen to all of us today. Many times we see something look so beautiful and pleasing to the eyes that even if we are told not touch it, we still do so. Eve was not perfect. She made mistakes and she was punished for it. Adam listened to her and also ate the forbidden fruit. He could have said no, but he didn’t. Eve also could have said no to the serpent.
But the devil is so cunning that even if she actually told him that God had clearly warned them that if they were to eat that certain fruit they would surely die, he still persuaded her to eat it by telling her that they would not die, but they will become like God. He knew very well that they would indeed die if they ate it but he would not stop. She finally gave in and took the fruit and thought that a little taste would not hurt. But what happened? She tasted it and found that it was good to the taste and so she ran to find Adam and told him to taste it too.
Adam was alarmed when he saw her with the fruit but instead of telling her off he also took it and ate. You might say that they did not die but they were cursed and sent out of the garden. But in truth they did die. They did not die physically but spiritually. They lost the intimacy and connection they had with their Creator and as a result of their disobedience sin entered into the world.
It is as difficult for us today to resist temptation just like it was for Eve. Sometimes we see something that we want so much and we know that we cannot afford it but what do we do? We go and buy it on credit and as a result put ourselves in debt. Or maybe if we are tempted to engage ourselves in sexual immorality, we find it difficult to resist. Why is that so? Let me tell you why it is so hard for us as women sometimes to resist temptation.
Have you ever been tempted by something that did not look so good and appealing to the eyes? Of course not, because the devil uses everything that is good and beautiful to tempt you with. He will bring along the most handsome man to sweet talk you into sin. He will say all the sweet and enticing words that will strike a chord in your heart. You might resist and play hard to get as we say, but in the end what happens? You succumb to the temptation and hope that no one will know. You go and indulge yourself in fornication or adultery.
Eve wanted so much to resist the temptation but it looked to good. She wanted to turn and run away from the serpent but the words he was saying to her were melting her heart and the fruit was burning her eyes with its beauty. Temptations always sound and look good, and the fact is, we will never be able to resist it on our own strength. We need the strength of God to help us to resist it. Eve had the strength of God but she did not ask Him to help her. She thought she could say no to the serpent by herself. By the time she realized that she could not, it was too late. She had sinned against God and she would have to pay for it.
God wants to help you to resist temptation and flee from the devil. The Psalmist said in Psalms 94:17-18 unless the Lord had been my help, my soul would have settled in silence. If I say, “my foot slips,” your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
Yes, the mercy of God will hold you up. He will be your help in times of trouble. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, for He himself was tempted when He was living among men, but He was able to resist it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus can help you to resist temptation. He knows what it feels like to be tempted and He also knows how hard it is for you to resist it. After He had spent forty days and forty nights without food or water in the wilderness, He was tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11) But how did He deal with it? He quoted scripture after scripture until the devil left Him alone. He kept saying to the devil, “It is written.”
None of us can overcome temptation and resist the devil by ourselves. We need the grace of God to be able to do so. As long as we remain spiritually alert and in prayer we shall be able to defeat the evil one with all his temptations. Jesus knows how to deliver us out of our temptations.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgement.
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Another way that will help us to resist temptation is to have self-control. Without it we will be tossed to and fro and the devil will have his way with us. We need to learn how to put reins on ourselves and control what we look at, what we say and have control of our thoughts. If we can do that then we shall be able to say to the devil “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Proverbs 4:23-27 keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
This scripture tells you and I to be careful what we say, what we think, and where we go. You cannot go in a place where you will put yourself in a vulnerable position to be tempted. You have to watch what you do so that you do not give the devil a foothold over your life. The book of James says that we are tempted when we let our own desires lead us. We should not fulfill the desires of the flesh or we will perish.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
How can we know when we are being tempted? If you remain in prayer daily and you have good communication with God then you will know when you are being tempted.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The bible describes the devil as a roaring lion. He is walking about seeking whom he may devour. Will it be you? He is waiting to pounce on you as soon as you slip. Do not give him what he wants. With God on your side you can defeat him. You can resist all that temptation that he sends your way. The Lord will help you until the end. If you will endure then you will receive a reward for overcoming temptation.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man (woman) who endures temptation; for when he (she) has been approved, he (she) will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Jesus Christ will keep you safe if you will only abide in Him. As long as you are hidden behind Him the devil cannot get to you. If Jesus is the master of your life and He is in charge of everything, then when the devil comes knocking He will find your Savior at the door and he will certainly flee.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
He will never leave you to fight the devil alone. He will be there fighting alongside you. Let Him be your captain and commander. Follow in his army and you will have the victory. Put on your full armor of battle and guard your heart. You cannot fight the devil alone for he is way stronger than you and all the armies of the earth put together. He is not a physical enemy so you cannot fight him with physical weapons. Resisting temptation is a form of spiritual warfare and you have to use spiritual weapons.
Ephesians 6:11-13 put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
Now here are the spiritual weapons that you will need to resist temptation and defeat the devil.
Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
God has given us all the weapons we need to fight against the evil one. If we use these weapons every time temptations come our way, we shall come out victorious. Eve did not use any of her weapons that day and look what happened to her. She gave in to the temptation and she had to suffer the consequences of her actions. Do not be like her in this beloved. Put on your armor and gird yourself up for battle. For the battle shall not end until the day of Jesus Christ, but with The Lord, the Almighty, the Captain of the Host of heaven on our side, we shall have the victory.
About Author: C.L. Leon is the author of the book “Daughters of the King”, which targets many different issues that women are facing today. It empowers women to take control of their lives and stand up for themselves. The book is available for immediate download on Amazon Kindle.
