Galen Mason

A word or two about rules

Every time I back the car out of the driveway, I am subject to rules. I grew up in a church with rules. As a child, our home had rules. We’ve all had rules at school as children and on the job as adults. Well, you get the picture. Life is full of rules.

Why are there rules? Well, it seems kind of obvious; rules are intended to protect us from something, to point us in a better direction, or maybe to provide us with a safer way of doing whatever it is that we are doing.

So, why do people tend to fuss so much about rules?!

Why do we keep the rules? Simply to keep the cops from stopping us and to keep ourselves out of jail? Maybe to stay on the good side of those who have responsibility for us, the ones to whom we are accountable? No; I think we obey traffic laws to keep ourselves, and everyone else on the roads, safe! We tend to obey rules because it makes life better.

As kids we obeyed our parents, probably to keep out of trouble or because we trusted them. But later on, we learned that they gave us the rules to keep us safe. But maybe before that, along the way to growing up, when we became smarter, when we thought we knew better than them, then we began to intentionally break the rules. And if we have lived long enough, we’ve probably learned that they were mostly right.

So, (pause), what about God’s “rules”? Did He just make them up? Or did someone impersonate God and make up silly rules just to irritate us and make life less fun?

I think, that if we’d just think, we’d realize that every rule God ever made had a purpose and was meant to protect us from some bad thing or to provide us with some good thing. God’s rules are not a way for you and me to earn enough points to get to heaven. None of us can be good enough at rule keeping that we can earn our way into God’s good graces! He has given the guidelines and if you’ll ask for His help, He will help you!

And another thing that complicates the process, not everyone agrees on just what the “rules” are. Well, I suggest you start reading the Bible for yourself to figure it out instead of just trusting someone else to tell you what God has had to say. Yes, it’s a little difficult. But, yes, you are smart enough to figure it out because God will help you, if you are honest enough to learn and willing to obey his “rules” or “guidelines” once He helps you find them. Are you? Will you?

Along the Way to Old Age

This past year, I reached the 70-year mark, my very own “threescore and ten” (see Psalm 90:10) – an age I used to think was pretty old, sort of “the end of useful living.” I don’t think I ever said that or even thought it in any clearly thought-out sort of way, but nevertheless, that was my perspective. (Sorry.) So, the question is, “What now?”

When I was younger, life sort of ran itself, I had to complete whatever course of action I was on. High-school had courses to be passed and a diploma to be earned, an end to be reached. My Navy time had many requirements; I couldn’t just quit. (Well, without facing severe consequences.) So, I just continued on, doing what was required, not really being in control of anything. As an adult I had to have a job so I could have money to pay the rent, buy the groceries, supply clothing for my kids, provide for my family – you know what I mean. On and on. (I know; I’m sounding pretty pessimistic.)

Of course, along the way, there were some major highlights! Like, learning to read. Wow! That one ability opened up a lot of worlds before me! And since I learned to enjoy science fiction at a pretty young age, I really do mean a lot of “worlds”! I travelled a lot of places and saw a lot of things and enjoyed many adventures in that universe of reading! One of the greatest things that ever happened to me!

And another thing, I’ve often said that I “grew up in church” – meaning that from my earliest memories, church was a large and important part of my life. Still is! And I’m glad of that.

But skipping over a lot of important stuff, let’s get back to my point; I’ve hit the “retirement” portion of my life. I don’t have to set the alarm or punch a timeclock! (Do people still use that term?) And, in so many ways, I am glad of that. Certain responsibilities are no longer on me. My time of simply reacting to the requirements of life, at least in major ways, is over.

One area of my life, however, is far better: my marriage! I get to spend far more time with Sharon than ever before! And, I’ve realized what a poor husband I have been and now I have time to do better, to pay better attention, to listen better. Umm … well, maybe I’m still not doing so well. You’ll have to ask her.

So, I guess my question is, as I amble along the way I’m on, … what now?

I think I found my prayer in Psalm 71, could be entitled as “Prayer of an Old Man.” Notice two verses (but look it up and read it all).

“O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18)

On the Way to Bethlehem – Part Two

The elderly priest Zacharias, chosen from a large group of priests for this privilege, entered the Temple to burn incense at the hour of prayer. A multitude of worshipers gathered outside, praying, as he entered the Holy Place and began the ritual of burning incense, symbolic of the prayers rising upward to God.

Suddenly, “… an angel of the Lord appeared … standing to the right of the altar of incense.” Zacharias was gripped by fear! But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John …” (Luke 1:5-15)

The voice of the angel Gabriel broke 400 years of spiritual silence! God’s messengers, the prophets, had long been silent; there is no record of God sending a message since the time of Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets.

Timewise, the Christmas story begins with Gabriel’s visit to Zacharias. Thus began a very specific part of God’s plan to bring eternal salvation to the world!

The last words of the last book of the OT, Malachi, are echoed in the first words of Gabriel. Gabriel said of the soon coming baby John, “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:16-17)

Notice the similarity of Malachi’s words, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore (or turn) the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

God spoke another prophecy through Malachi in the previous chapter, another reference about John the Baptist as well as about Jesus! “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me, and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple …” (Malachi 3:1)

Here’s the point: God’s plan of salvation was not a spur of the moment thing! He had been planning these very events for the hundreds of years between the Old and New Testaments! In fact, God’s plan had been in the works for thousands of years!

And, by the way, He’s still not through! The last two verses of the Bible, the very end of the Book, remind us of His return! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)

God’s plans, promises, and prophecies are absolutely trustworthy! I hope we’re ready!

Along the Way to Bethlehem

Part One

As the new year begins, and thinking back on the Christmas season, I noticed a couple of things. One, the New Testament began with a connection to the Old, a continuation of God’s story. Secondly, I noticed that the very first chapter of the New Testament revealed the greatest reason of all for the Christmas season, the primary reason why Jesus came!

First, the continuation from Old to New. Notice the very first verse of the New Testament, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah (Christ), the Son of David, the son of Abraham.” Abraham shows up the first time in Genesis 11:26, “Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” A few verses later, in Genesis 12:1-3, God speaks to him. “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth … To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you … And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

The rest of the Old Testament, in one way or another, tells the story of God’s interaction with Abraham (his name was changed from Abram to Abraham) and his descendants. David was a distant descendant of Abraham, and Jesus was an even further descendant. In fact, it was well over 2000 years from Abraham to Jesus. God is apparently in charge of history on a long-term scale, Old Testament, New Testament, and continuing!

Now, the second thing I noticed was in the dream of Joseph, a small-town carpenter whose fiancé was pregnant, and not by him! He was most certainly in emotional turmoil, yet we are told that, “… Joseph … being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.” But God interrupted his plans; “… behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21)

Wait! Don’t miss the reason here stated, “He will save His people from their sins.” That’s it! The point of it all, the reason for the season! From Genesis 3 onward, it’s been obvious that the problem above all problems is sin! Everything God has done since that point (and even before then) has been to save us from the sins that cause all our problems! In fact, the New Testament tells us how Jesus accomplished this goal; in the gospels, and then throughout the entire New Testament, to the very end of the last book, Revelation!

No room here to tell the “how” this was accomplished, but I have to ask myself how well this goal is being accomplished in my life, daily? And in your life? Have you been saved “from” sin? Are you being daily saved “from” sin? Or, do you just go along sinning daily and expecting that the Scripture meant only to save us from the ultimate, final, eternal, result of our sins? If you’ve been saved from slavery, you are not still a slave. If you’ve been saved from drowning, you are not still in the water! If you’ve been saved from sin, you are not continuing to live a life dominated by sin!

Listen, Jesus came to save us FROM our sins!

A Friend of Sinners

John the Baptist, in prison, sent some of his followers to ask Jesus an important question (Mt 11:3), “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered them and they departed. Then Jesus spoke to the crowds about John and ended with these words: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” (Mt 11:18-19 NASB). Jesus was quoting His critics; they were the ones who accused Him of being a friend of sinners. From them, it was not a compliment.

Accusations were being made of Jesus and John the Baptist. John was separate and strict in his behavior and diet while Jesus mingled with the people and ate at their feasts. Not long before this, Jesus had called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him and Matthew gave a big reception for Jesus at his house (Lk 5:29). A crowd of tax collectors and others whom the Pharisees referred to as “sinners” were also there, dining with Jesus and Matthew (Mt 9:10). The Pharisees questioned His actions and we see the motives of Jesus in His reply. “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:31-32).

Consider another incident involving this same criticism. In Luke 15:1-2, we are told that “… all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.” Again, the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus never avoided people who needed to hear His message; He always accepted those who came to Him. In the course of His travels and during the times of His teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus often encountered people who were considered as the untouchables of society or the outcasts, the sinners, the unrighteous. He always was kind and good in His reception of them, so He was accurately considered as a friend to them. However, Jesus always was in the process of trying to save them from their sins, to be their spiritual “physician”.

The rest of Luke 15 is devoted to three stories Jesus told in response to the accusation that He, “… receives sinners and eats with them.” The first parable was of a shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to search for and find the one sheep which had gotten lost. After finding the sheep the man calls together his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Jesus then declared (v 7), “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

The second parable was the story of a woman who had lost one coin, but swept her house and used a lamp to search for the lost coin. When she finds the coin, she called her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Jesus again declares, “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The third parable is perhaps more well known; it is the story of a lost son. We call it the parable of the “Prodigal Son.” This parable is a little different than the first two. In those parables, we see a picture of God searching for those who are lost. That is a picture of why Jesus came to earth and explains the actions of Jesus as He went about preaching the kingdom, healing the sick, bringing the “Good News” of salvation! But in this parable of the lost son, we see the father allowing the son to go his own way and try to live his own life, but eventually finding himself in terrible circumstances and finally seeing himself as lost. He came to his senses and returned to his father with true repentance. And as a beautiful picture of God, our heavenly Father, this earthly father joyfully receives his son back home, declaring (Lk 15:23-24), “… let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

In all this we find that Jesus was truly a “friend of sinners” but not simply for the enjoyment of their company or “hanging out” as people today seem to think. Let’s go back to Matthew 11:19 where Jesus listed the criticisms against Himself. He obviously was not a “gluttonous man” nor was He a “drunkard” and neither was He in the way the critics intended a “friend of tax collectors and sinners.” His final words there are, “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” Watching all that Jesus did, wisdom will reveal His intentions as well as His actions; Jesus was the Savior searching for those who were lost!

The question for us today, then, concerns our own intentions as we live in a world filled with sin. Are we simply enjoying friendships with sinners or are we praying constantly for the Lord to give us opportunities to share His truth, His good news, with those with whom we are friends, those who need to be saved?

What He Said to John the Baptist

Mt 3:15 “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” What did Jesus mean about fulfilling “all righteousness”? Is there a message here for you and me?

In the days before Jesus came to John, God had sent John the Baptist to preach a strong message! It was bold, strong, and simple, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John’s message was intended to bring about a spiritual awakening in order to prepare the nation for the coming of Jesus!

Large crowds of people gathered and listened to his message! Those who responded by repenting of their sins, “… were being baptized by him … as they confessed their sins” (Mt 3:6). John further demanded of those who came that their lives would show proof of their change of heart and mind by a change of life, “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance …” Every one who repents will change! Without change there is no repentance.

So, when Jesus came to John to be baptized by him, John resisted because he recognized Jesus as the Messiah and knew that He certainly had no need to repent! John said, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Mt 3:14)

This was only the second time in His earthly life when the words that Jesus spoke were recorded. (The first time was when He was twelve years old.) Let’s not miss what Jesus said here!

John was correct in knowing that Jesus did not have sins to confess, did not need to repent, did not need to be baptized to show His reception of the message! Why then did Jesus want to be baptized by John? “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Righteousness includes the sum total of all that God required of Jesus then, and of us now! It just the right thing to do!

Jesus willingly did all that God required of Him, and this baptism in water was His way of demonstrating His submission to God’s plan, God’s way! This was Jesus identifying with the people who were coming to God and devoting themselves to Him, to His way and His will for us all!

Notice again the words, “all righteousness”! Those who confess their sins, receive forgiveness, who repent and turn away from their sins, are also submitting to God’s plans for them, plans that are always right! God is the only One who determines what is “right” and what is not! It is His “righteousness” that we must pursue.

On that day, maybe the first day of His public ministry, Jesus set the example by doing what God had determined was “fitting” as He sought to “fulfill all righteousness.” Let us pray that God will fulfill all righteousness in our lives, too!

What He Said as a Twelve-Year-Old

Luke 2:41-52

The only recorded words of Jesus spoken during His childhood were spoken as two questions. “Why were you looking for Me? … Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Or “… about My Father’s business?”) He seems surprised that His parents had been searching for Him, that they were worried about Him!

Three days prior, after their time in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of the Passover, their home town group had set out on the long journey back toward Galilee. But on the evening of that first day of travel, their Son Jesus was not found among them!

Listen, this was no ordinary boy; this was the Child announced by angels, born of a miraculous conception, the very Son of God, placed in their keeping, and they had lost Him! No wonder that Mary was worried, that Joseph was worried!

After another day traveling back to Jerusalem, they had begun the third day without Him with a desperate searching. And they found the twelve-year-old Jesus “… in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (We might also note, “And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.”)

Our imaginations could get a little wild here thinking about all of that and Jesus being only twelve years old at that time. However, it’s His questions spoken in answer to Mary that really get me. If we could set aside the context for just a moment (not normally a good idea), we might hear Jesus asking us the first part of that same question, “Why were you looking for Me?” Perhaps we should ask first if we really are “looking” for Him! How much effort, time, or attention are we putting into our search for Jesus? And again, “Why?”

Are we simply trying to make sure that we get to go to heaven? Or escape that other alternative in eternity? Or are we searching out of a sense of curiosity? Or, perhaps because we find ourselves in a difficult or even impossible situation in life at the moment and we need His help? Maybe at some deeper level you feel some sort of responsibility to Jesus for yourself, your life, or for the fact that you even exist? Do we “owe” Him anything? Will we be held accountable for what we do about Jesus? What might He think about our search for Him?

Jesus may, even now, be searching deep in your soul as He asks you, very personally, “Why are you looking for Me?”

His second question to Mary is also a major clue to us concerning where we might find Him. “Do you not know that I have to be about My Father’s business?”

Influence and Cultural Transformation

When enough people in a society accept a certain behavior as normal, their influence is powerful. Other people are then given “cultural permission” to consider, to experiment with, to participate in, and then to give further acceptance or even approval to that behavior. Many will then even begin to celebrate that behavior, giving further freedom for others to participate in that behavior. That behavior begins to be seen as normal and good; thus, a culture or a society can be transformed.

It is true in many areas such as style of dress, popular music, and even tattoos.

But in far more important things it has been true.

It was true with human slavery.

It was true of Hitler’s attempt to eradicate the Jews.

It was true for divorce, which is now totally acceptable.

It was true for extra-marital “affairs”.

It was true for sexual promiscuity; birth control was even supplied to young people.

It is now true for abortion.

It is now true for same-sex relationships.

It is now true for trans-sexuality, boys “becoming” girls and girls “becoming” boys.

It is even now becoming true in some dark corners of society to accept pedophilia.

All of these things have happened in some cultures and in some societies – and our only real hope is to have a spiritual revival of biblical morals – and then perhaps our culture can be transformed into a safer, more peaceful, and saner society. May God awaken enough of us to influence our society for the good.

Cultural Chaos

Oct 08, 2024
How did our society get to this place? “Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” (Romans 1:29-32 NLT)

These qualities are filling our society, our politics, our entertainment, our news programs, and our conversations. Why is that? Perhaps you could say that all these things are simply the “wrath of God” that has been allowed. You would be right. There have been times when God’s sorrow over the evil in a society has so touched His heart that He simply lifts away His hand of protection and allows people to have what they want. That is where we are today.

This is a downward process that begins when “… that which is known about God …” is pushed aside and ignored. Those who turn away, perhaps even without realizing the consequences, will “… become futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart [will be] darkened. Professing to be wise, they become fools …” (Romans 1:21-22) Again, we might ask, “Why?” They replace God with other ideas or things, giving honor to the creation rather than the Creator!

Three times God’s actions are described. First, “… God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity …” Second, “… God gave them over to degrading passions …” And third, “… God gave them over to a depraved mind …” (Romans 1:24-28). Because they refused Him, He allowed them to pursue what they wanted. And because God’s ways are always for our good and will protect us from evil, when ways other than God’s are employed, the result will be an overwhelming darkness of sin and the deterioration of a society, cultural chaos.

The solution to gun violence and school shootings will not be found in laws or political action. The physical and mental health of children and adults alike will not be found in education or in the medical or psychological professions. The overwhelming lack of trust in anyone, the fear of others, and the skepticism that fills our minds – none of that will be made right by any human agencies.

The answer to evil is exactly where it has always been. God’s intentions are that such evil will drive us back to Him! Quoting from an earlier part of the same chapter I’ve been referring to, “… I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …” (Romans 1:16). The solution, of course, is for people to turn their hearts, minds, motives, and lives back to God. His ways are always right and always good! In the words of Jesus, “… repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Christian, pray!

Tempted?

Part One: What on earth was Eve thinking? Genesis 3

When asked about a second piece of apple pie, we might reply, “That’s tempting.” But later when we feel stuffed, we might ask, “What was I thinking?” Ever wonder about Eve? What was so tempting about the fruit of that particular tree? And later? What was she thinking? Before she paid much attention to the fruit of that particular tree, she was asked a very suspicious question by a very suspicious snake. “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (3:1)

Listen, I don’t think there is any harm in asking questions, in trying to understand what God has said or why He said it, or how it applies to me, but we need to keep in mind the fact that God is always good, always right, and always has our best interests in His heart. Always!

Back to Eve. She attempted to correct the serpent. “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” (3:2-3)

But then the snake really got out of line! “You surely will not die!” (3:4). A direct contradiction to what God said! Red flag! However, instead of stopping the conversation or running away or reporting the snake to Adam or to God – instead, she hesitated, then continued to listen. (There’s a warning here for you and me! Pay attention!)

The snake explained his reasoning (as Satan always does when he contradicts what God has said), “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (3:5).

Aha! Did you get that? This was a clear implication that God is not to be trusted, that His words do not mean what they seem to mean, that He was obviously keeping something desirable from them! And notice his “promise” (so-called), “… you will be like God …” Whoa! Hold it! Stop right there! Adam and Eve were already “like” God! Remember Gen 1:27? “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” The snake was promising something that they already had! (A lesser version, if you will.)

The devil will always try to get you to question what God has said, implying that God could very possibly be wrong, mistaken, or even deceitful by keeping something from us that we ought to be able to experience and decide for ourselves. (Or, that His words in the Bible were probably mistranslated; that’s his usual deception for today!)

Don’t get caught in his trap. Always trust what God has said! What the devil delivers is always less that he made it appear, and far less than what God will provide! God is always good! Don’t forget that!

So, again, I ask, what was on Eve’s mind? What was she thinking? We are given a little insight in Genesis 3:6. “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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

She was thinking that the fruit was good for food – even though God had forbidden them to eat it. That the fruit was delightful to the eyes; it really was pretty! (Usually what Satan offers is “pretty” but only superficially, if compared to what God provides!) And, in addition to that, it had the potential to make her wise, to make her a better person! Hmm … these are the things that Eve was thinking!

Her first thought should have been to remember what God had already said about it, not what some other voices were saying or even what her own thoughts were! There’s a lesson here; we should always begin with what God said. God is the final and absolute authority on all things. Only He is God! That’s the proper place to begin.

That’s how sin entered our world, “… she took from its fruit and age; and she gave also to her husband with her; and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).

Part Two: The “World”

I’m reminded of a couple of verses from the New Testament, 1 John 2:15-16. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

Comparing with the narrative of Genesis 3, it seems that the snake’s empty promise to Eve was very similar to the “world” that John was warning us against! Let’s notice the similarities of John’s words and Eve’s thoughts. Compare 1 John 2:16and Genesis 3:6.

“lust of the flesh” – “good for food”
“lust of the eyes” – “a delight to the eyes”
“boastful pride of life” – “desirable to make one wise”

Sounds like the snake’s temptation strategies haven’t changed much! Let’s look at the three areas of temptation mentioned.

The “lust of the flesh” refers to our natural human physical desires. Practically, it’s the desire for physical pleasure or satisfaction. When allowed to rule us, it can become an obsession for food, sexual pleasure, or the feelings we get from alcohol, drugs, or other substances. The “lust of the flesh” can bring about addictions or pursuits that damage our bodies, our minds, and our relationships! To do something just because it gives us pleasure is always a mistake!

God provided good food for Eve and Adam; there was no need to reach for a fruit that she had already been warned against. All of our “flesh” needs have proper and good avenues to be supplied to us by God’s good design! He created us and has a plan to provide for us everything we will ever need! And it will always be good – far better than what the snake promises!

The “lust of the eyes” includes the desire to possess things! Out of the misuse of this desire come “covetousness” or greed! It’s the desire to make something “mine”! It’s the drive for a better house, a nicer car, a better job – you know what I’m talking about. It’s wanting something that we’ve seen, that someone else has and it’s desirable!

The fruit that the snake pointed out, the forbidden one, the one God had already warned them about – listen, there was a reason that it was forbidden! If she had paid attention to God’s words, Eve would have bypassed the destruction that she experienced along with Adam and, in fact, all creation! That’s why the event of Adam and Eve giving in to temptation is called “the Fall”! One of the Ten Commandments is simply, “You shall not covet …” (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21).

Why should we worry about possessions? Jesus said, “… your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8) and a little later, “… do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more that food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25).

Then, “the boastful pride of life” includes the desire for what will make me a better person, fulfill my desires, give me a better life (by a worldly standard). Eve wanted the fruit because it was “desirable to make one wise”! People want things because they will make a person wiser, more influential, more respected, and more powerful! We want what we think we “deserve” or what we think we have a “right” to have or to be! And, these things can easily make us “proud” is a very negative way!

If we give in to the “lust of the flesh” we become immoral or addicted or simply very shallow as a person. (Immoral simply means that we do what is wrong by God’s standards.)

If we give in to the “lust of the eyes” we will pursue things (even good things) by wrong methods, becoming greedy for what we don’t have and envious for what others have!

If we give in to the “pride of life” we’ll pursue what will make us arrogant and proud and if unable to gain what we pursue we’ll become bitter, angry, and harsh and will blame others for what we don’t have or haven’t achieved!

Perhaps James said it best, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16). Giving in to temptation is dangerous; it brings death, first spiritual and then physical! Remember that God had warned Adam about the fruit of that one tree, “… in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

Part Three: The Temptations of Jesus Luke 4:1-13

I now want to compare the temptations of Jesus from Luke 4 with Adam and Eve’s temptation as stated in Genesis 3:6, and the comments about the world from 1 John 2:16. Don’t forget that Hebrews 4:15 states that Jesus was tempted in all the ways that we are and yet did not sin!

Luke 4:2 says that after Jesus had fasted for forty days and was hungry, and was at His weakest point He was approached by the devil, who said, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” The serpent offered forbidden fruit to Eve, but bread was certainly not forbidden to Jesus. So, was the temptation to “prove” that He was the Son of God? Or, maybe, more subtly, a temptation to meet His own physical, fleshly, needs by means of a miracle? Would Jesus attempt to use God’s power for His personal need? Perhaps the question is whether or not this was God’s planned way to meet His need for food?

Remember that the “lust of the flesh” includes all the natural physical needs that we have as humans. What will rule in life – the needs (desires) of the flesh or the perfect plan of God and His way of meeting our needs?

Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE’” (Luke 4:4). Matthew’s gospel adds to this answer, “… BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD” (Matthew 4:4). God knows that our primary needs are spiritual and if we will get our priorities in order, the physical needs will also be met – in a proper, appropriate, and God-planned way!

Secondly, in Luke 4:5-7, the devil offers Jesus an easy way to obtain a world-wide kingdom, including “… all the kingdoms of the world … all this domain and its glory …”! All the glory, the glitter, and power of the world’s kingdoms, all the riches and beauty that the world could offer! Hmmm? All that would be required would be to “worship” before him, to bow down to the devil, to the world’s methods! Hmmm? To build God’s kingdom with the world’s/devil’s methods?

Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY’” (Luke 4:8). You will serve what or whom you worship and you will worship what or whom you serve.

The third temptation focused on Jesus Himself and the influence that He could have if He would simply use the devil’s way of interpreting Scripture, Luke 4:9-12. The devil said, “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here [the pinnacle of the temple], for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,’ and ‘ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOU FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” The devil quoted from Psalm 91 – but his application was not quite in accordance with God’s intention! (By the way, Satan is still offering many incorrect applications of God’s word today. So, be careful who you’re listening to.)

Jesus answered, “It is said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST’” (Luke 4:12). Don’t think that you can force God’s hand to protect you or provide for you or to answer any prayer you might dream up! He’s God; you’re not.

Okay, here’s the comparison of Eve’s temptations in Genesis 3, the temptations of Jesus in Luke 4, and the words of warning about the “world” in 1 John 2.

First,

The forbidden fruit was obviously “good for food”
Jesus could easily have turned the stone into bread
Both would satisfy the “lust of the flesh” in ways God’s did not approve!

Secondly,

The fruit was a “delight to the eyes”
Jesus saw all the kingdoms of the world and their glory
Both would satisfy the “lust of the eyes” but were not in God’s plan!

Thirdly,

The fruit was “desirable to make one wise”
Leaping from the temple, unhurt, would focus on Jesus, the individual
Focusing first on ourselves simply feeds the “boastful pride of life” – which, again, is not God’s way! Our focus must be first on the Lord!

So, be cautious, temptations come in many devious ways and will always lead us out of the way God has planned for us! Remember again the words of James 1:14-16.

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

(Scriptures are from the NASU 95 version.)