As I was driving to work one day, I read a bumper sticker that said, “Eve was framed.” The thought of Eve being framed has been stuck on my mind ever since. So I did a little research to see if I could prove this statement.
I started reading Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen G. White. It explicitly said in page 52 that angels have warned Adam and Eve about Lucifer who deceived many angels with his lies and that the couple need to be vigilant because Lucifer resided now on earth.
Eve was also told directly by God not to separate herself from Adam and wander by herself for a long period of time. God also said not to eat the fruit from a specific tree called the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Adam and Eve were not to go near it nor touch it. They were to leave it alone.
Despite the warnings, Eve managed to find herself separated from Adam and standing in front of the forbidden tree. Lucifer was already at the tree and he lured Eve into temptation that ultimately led to her demise.
Eve was not framed. She gave into her passions despite the warnings. And most of us today are doing the same thing – ignoring the signs and going against our better judgment.
I also observed something else when I read the story again in the book of Genesis. In chapter 3:6, it says, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (NKJV). Eve committed the three most deadly passions that the Bible warns us about in the New Testament. “Do not love the world or 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, 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 of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” This is found in 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV).
The three passions John is warning us from are (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life. Eve was the first to commit all three at the same time. She “saw that the tree was good for food,” which is the same as lust of the flesh, or in other words, gluttony, which is one of the seven deadly sins. Secondly, Eve saw that “it was pleasing to the eyes,” which is the definition of lust of the eyes. Lastly, she believed that the tree was “desirable to make one wise.” Isn’t it our pride and joy these days to be all-knowing and wise? Look at Jeopardy, for example. We take much pride in our knowledge and wisdom.
I know it’s unfortunate that our first parents made this grave mistake. It’s not fair that we have to pay the price for something we did not do. But we have to face reality. The wages of sin is death, and we need to find a way out or else we’re doomed. Thankfully Jesus has already given us a way out through His death and resurrection. He offers us the gift of salvation. All we need to do is believe in Him and accept His gift. Jesus had to die because of something He did not do. But He willingly did it anyway because He loves us. Let’s focus on having a relationship with Him as a response to our faith and gratitude.
I think... 