Fascination
by PJ Salas fascination
"When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate, and gave some to her husband, who also ate." Genesis3:6.
Origin
This (Genesis3:6) is the very heartbreaking and harrowing description of the fall of humanity, of the origin of our fascination with sin, and the genesis of our separation from God.
The story of our attraction to sin is something we know and understand little of; we do not realize just how captivated we are by sin. It is enchanting, and it magnetizes us. We love sin, we long for it, we lust after it, and we choose it.
Our Growing Desire for Sin
Ever since we opened our hearts to sin, our desire for it grows more with each indulgent act. We are absorbed with our attractions. They are so much a part of us that trying to separate ourselves from them becomes near impossible.
Our culture abounds with our fascinations; it is teeming with the objects of our wants. Society is overflowing with things we adore, with enticements for our inordinate and profane affection for others. Additionally, we excessively use the things we need, and the things that brings us comfort.
God gave us senses for the enjoyment of our physical needs. However, He did not intend for us to use them in destructive excess. Our tendency is to over indulge in everything. We partake of things that have no value, only to be led away from what is right, deteriorating and harming ourselves.
What is Sin
Understanding sin, and being cognizant of it, is our great need. "Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law, for sin is the transgression of the law." 1John3:4. Sin is the transgression of God's holy Ten Commandment law; it is the blatant disregard of His expressed will.
God's Word tells us that to the one who knows to do right and does it not, this is sin. The Bible also says that in the times of ignorance the Lord winked. (James4:17;Acts17:30). It is one thing not knowing better, it is another thing altogether, knowing what is right and not doing it. Further, a pretense of not knowing will not fool God; and refusal to know His will does not excuse us either. This is especially true for our generation, as the Bible is so readily available.
Sin is contrary to God's will and ways; it is in opposition to His Word and law. When we live contrary to God, to His Word and His law, we are sinning.
Temptation and Sin
To be tempted to sin is not sin. However, when we act on the temptation, then it is sin. When we give into the desire to be contrary to God's law, to His Word, this is sin. The Bible says we are tempted and enticed when drawn away by our lust. When we give into our yearning, then sin is conceived in us. (James1:14,15). Acting on temptation to be contrary to God, to His expressed will, is sin.
Does God Tempt People
The Bible says, "let no one say when tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does He tempt anyone." James1:13. God tempts no one. He leads no one into temptation or evil. Our lust leads us away.
Unnatural longings for what is inappropriate and harmful seize us. It is our perverse nature that yearns to take hold of temptation; and satan is right there luring us into the sin. Let no one say when tempted, I am tempted of God. God cannot be tempted with evil; nor does He tempt anyone. Rather we are tempted and enticed when drawn away by our own lust. When we give in to our lusting, then sin is conceived. (James1:13-15).
Overcoming Sin
"…Jesus was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." 1John 3:5. Jesus was tempted three times by satan in the wilderness before He began His earthly ministry. He was also tempted by satan in the Garden of Gethsemane before His death; but He resisted satan's temptations.
The record of Jesus' temptation in Gethsemane tells us that Jesus sweat drops of blood resisting the temptation to go against God's will. (Luke22:44). Christ never sinned. He never gave into temptation to break God's law; nor to follow His own flesh, nor was He contrary to the Father's will ever.
Christ is our example in all things, including overcoming sin. Jesus was born in the flesh; He lived and died in the flesh. Christ faced temptation, and overcame temptation by His reliance upon the heavenly Father. And this is how we overcome sin, by relying on Jesus to help us.
Jesus came to this earth not only to die for our sins, but also, to help us overcome and be victorious over sin. "thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Corinthians15:57.
Our Fascination
Our fascination with something or someone gets us in trouble. The forbidden tree fascinated Eve; and she fixated on it. The more she looked at the fruit, the more she wanted to have it. She finally gave into her infatuation, and partook of the forbidden. So it is with us.
When we are attracted to something or someone, this is not sin. However, when we allow something or someone to fascinate us, now we are walking into sin. We are assailed by our attraction.
Longing for what is contrary to God causes the line between right and wrong to become so blurred that righteous reasoning gives way to unrighteous choice. Our desire for what is captivating entraps us; and our fascinations arrest our prudent reasonability, producing sin in us.
When we become so absorbed with what we want that we will not be hindered or deterred from our exorbitant attraction we have become beguiled and captured by the enemy of life, satan; and that which is reasonable becomes lost to us.
As the first pair was captivated by their fascination for the forbidden, as they allowed their unnatural affection for the object of their attention to grip them, they lost their way and fell prey to satan and sin. And this is the perpetuated condition of the human heart and mind through the centuries.
Protect Your Senses
It is important to guard the avenues of our senses. satan fascinated and captured Eve through her senses (Ge3:6), and he does the same thing to us (1Jn 2:16). Willingly we participate in the tempting fascinations of satan, which he uses to appeal to our senses and lead us into sin.
We need to be choosy about what we listen to and watch, events we attend, who we associate with, even what we eat (Ge3:6;Psa1:1;101:3;119:37;Pro13:20;Is7:15;1Co15:33;1Thes5:22;Js4:4;1Jn2:16). "...whatsoever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatever is of a good report, if there is any virtue, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things." Philippians4:8.
"Love not the world (ungodly), neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world (ungodly), the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but the one who does the will of God will abide forever." 1John2:15-17.
The Way Out
There is one way and one way only out of sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in the flesh, not only to take away our sin, but also to help us overcome sin. It is Christ that strengthens us to resist sin. (1Jn3:5;Php4:13).
Jesus empowers us through His Spirit to refuse sin. Our faith in Jesus equips us to resist and be victorious over all sin. True faith is practical.
Trust in Jesus leads us to act in righteousness through Him, our Savior and Deliverer from sin. Christ empowers us to overcome satan's temptations that are so alluring. The Bible assures us, that it is our faith that extinguishes the fiery darts satan throws at us (Eph6:16). Faith in Jesus, in His ability to do in us what we cannot do, is our conquering weapon against satan's assaults.
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him; and He will bring it to pass. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as high noon." Psalms37:5,6.
Trust God
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your ways. Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil." Proverbs3:5-7.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but the one who does the will of God will abide forever." 1John2:16,17.
Go with Jesus, journey in His light. Embrace His love and do His will. He will strengthen you, and He will help you. Believe in Jesus. Have faith in Him to inspire you, to encourage you, to uplift you, and to enable you, that you may be a vibrant, healthy, victorious overcomer.
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