St. Paul warns us that "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) Eve admits that "The serpent deceived me." Jesus calls him the "father of lies." (John 8:44) He always operates in disguise. Modern portrayals of evil in monstrous and diabolical forms are far removed from reality. The Tempter "hides behind a mask of harmless, indeed, pious benevolence. All temptations in life begin in sugared form. He presents himself as a representative of the good. He says to us, "Come on, I want to give you a fascinating experience. You have no idea what life has to offer. Do you want to miss the best, the most exciting things in life? Surely God doesn't want you to miss anything in your life. He wants you to avail yourself of all the potentialities with which the great Creator endowed your body. After all, wasn't it God who put this passion in your veins?" (Helmut Thielicke, How The World Began, 124-127)

Temptation begins with the reasonable invitation to discussion. "Can't we just discuss this? Surely, nothing is off limits. God is not narrow-minded to create something you could not enjoy. Why would he prohibit anything that he has made? God is a God of unlimited abundance of life. Why should anything that he made be bad or forbidden? Didn't God create us to live our life to the full? Why would he restrict us? We have all sorts of opportunities in life, why should we not explore them? Take everything you can get, for God is handing it out to you. Act according to the laws of life, even when they are cruel, for God made life. Take advantage of the rights of the stronger, for God is always on the side of the heaviest artillery. Keep shoving down and climbing up; that's the way to get ahead. After all, that's what this life God created looks like." (op.cit. 128,129)

When encouragement is given to discuss the possibilities, the Tempter proceeds to assure us that the consequences will be beneficial. "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." He takes the fear away and paints a rosy picture of the results. This kind of deception is rampant in our culture. We are tempted to believe that self-interest, and pandering to our basic desires for physical comfort, will have only beneficial results. We wish to believe the illusion that we can have it all, and that there are no painful consequences. 'Surely God is on our side, and wishes only the best for us? He wants us to know everything. He wants us to be exposed to reality.'

St. James warns us, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (1:13-15)

Naïve optimism about life that is not grounded in Biblical faith, leads to self-deception, the illusion that all will be well, that the piper does not need to be paid, that lunch is always free. Death is a threat to be taken seriously. Separation from God who creates us for love is a terrifying consequence that we cannot minimize.

"Here is the lie that has allured the human race from the beginning (see John 8:44): there is no punishment for disobedience. But the Bible again and again makes it clear that no one can get away with sin. Disobedience brings death." (Allen P. Ross, Creation & Blessing, p.135)

Why is Eve deceived? Why are we deceived? Why do we fall for a lie? Because we want to be deceived. We want it all. We want to call ourselves Christians but we also want to enjoy comfortable, easygoing, cozy lives. We do not want to engage in the struggle and strain of having to resist the wiles of the devil, of having to discipline ourselves and endure suffering. Our desire leads us into the illusion that we are doing the better thing, the more mature thing, and that we will get away with it. Intoxicating desire excites us.

Basic to our humanity is anxiety about the unknown. "What will happen if....?" We experience being both attracted and repulsed by the possibilities. Like children we desire to explore, to discover, to see life as an adventure, to take risks, to experience danger. Our fear also adds to the excitement. This experience of anxiety gives us an awareness of our freedom and our responsibility. It helps us to see that life consists of choices. In this case, it is a choice of respecting God's command or to override it by the desire to mature, to become a superior, experienced being who is independent of God. Can I have it both ways? Can I be independent and also live in harmony with God? Can I be an equal with God, and not just a creature made in the image of God? Am I not free to make that decision? God has certainly given me that possibility.

The dilemma faced by Eve and Adam is the dilemma faced by each one of us. Without questioning the historicity of Adam and Eve, we must see ourselves in Adam and Eve, and every person as Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve embodies and represents us all. When we fall into sin we in some way recapitulate and repeat Adam's sin. (C. Stephen Evans, Soren Kierkegaard's Christian Psychology, 60-64)

How do we avoid repeating Adam and Eve's sin? Don't get into a discussion with the devil. Every time Jesus was tested in the wilderness he used his superior knowledge of the Word of God to refute Satan. The only way to avoid being deceived is to know the Word of God, to memorize it, and to use it to discern truth from error. Early in my Christian life, as a teenager, I tried to fill my mind with Scripture. I would begin every morning by taking a verse from my daily Bible reading to guide me and inspire me throughout the day. I still do. This is the principle of self-talk that motivational speakers have discovered from the Bible. Three thousand years ago the psalmist instructed us:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you....

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (Psalm 119:9-16)

We also have the living Word of God who promises to be always present with us by his Spirit. We share his risen and ascended life as he calls us to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things. When we walk with him we walk in the light as he is in the light and the darkness of deceit and illusion is dispelled. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

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