By Rhonda Stinson
I am Eve, tempted and fallen, naked and hiding from God. What a grand entrance for the first lady of all human creation. Deceived by the serpent, delivering herself and all of humankind to a world of sin. I’m sure this isn’t exactly how Eve would like to have started off Chapter 1 in the history book of all history books. After all, how could she have known how far-reaching this one seemingly small act of disobedience would be? I say this would make front page news in the media today. But wouldn’t you know it, there the account is smack-dab in the Bible in Genesis Chapter 3.
The serpent began with a very sly question: “Has God indeed said…?” Oh, isn’t this serpent the devious doubt dealer? Eve, are you sure this is what God said? Could it be you misheard or misunderstood God’s command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Then the serpent said, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” This is a pretty convincing statement. Satan (the serpent) wasn’t trying to convince Eve to just eat a piece of fruit; it was much deeper than this. He merely used the fruit as luring eye candy to the big fish; to be like God, knowing good and evil.
Eve’s story is very similar to that of many today, myself included. I ate of Satan’s eye candy many years ago. It began as a gentle wave, which over time became more and more harsh until it became an all-encompassing tidal wave. The lure was a thin body, you know just like the slender models who grace the runway. The “big fish” was what I was really after. I wanted to be noticed, to be told I was beautiful, to fit in, to be treated like I didn’t have a disease (juvenile diabetes), to not have to feel like an outcast for holding to Christian values, to be outgoing, secure, etc… I was convinced that I could attain all of these things simply by slimming down. The slim down turned into knock down, which eventually led to tap out.
Little did I know I would be locked in an addiction with lifelong consequences. It is of utmost importance that we instruct the younger generations on who they are and how significant they are because they were made by God and for God. When we are trying to find our significance outside of God’s original plan, we will fall to destruction.
The good news is, God restores beauty for our ashes once we have truly repented and deemed ourselves doomed without His hand of mercy. It was at my point of no return that God stepped in and asked me to return. It was like my Groom holding out His hand of unconditional love and saying, “I know what you’ve done, but I’m still here waiting for you with expectant anticipation. Will you marry me, Rhonda?” After being all-consumed in the temporary lust of addiction, I was ready to take God’s hand and let Him lead.
There are many “big fish” in the world we may be focused on. For Eve it was to be like God, knowing good and evil and for myself it was love and acceptance; but the only “big fish” that will fully and eternally satisfy is God. He fills our voids completely and leads us on a path of hope and a bright future (Jeremiah. 29:11-14). God now has my heart hook, line and sinker. How about you?
