Evening star., 1926-04-17

Environment failed to sustain the
good characters of our first parents,
who were placed within the Garden of
Eden. Adam and Eve were created
with sinless natures. They started
life in state of perfection. There
was nothing in Eden to defile or de-
stroy. They were surrounded by
every comfort and their work was
free from WEAKNESS. They were
given dominion over the wild beasts.
They enjoyed the fellowship and COM
munion with God, who called for them
to preserve their righteousness by a
life of obedience. Both faced the pos
sibility of SHINING. They could not
become the characters God desired
unless there was given unto them
the privilege of being free moral
agents. They could not fulfill their
mission without submitting their wills
to Gods commands. Man, whom we
saw in our study last week was the
crown of creation. combining in his
personality elements of the dust
which are of themselves of divine
origin, with the directly implanted
life of God" had only one limitation
placed upon him and his companion
Our lesson brings us face to face
with the stern facts of human life
law and transgression, temptation
and failure, defeat and death. De-
litZsch has pointed out how we can
find the message of this weeks study
among all nations, where it has been
completely changed by being mixed
up with their mythology, history and
geography, yet we can easily recog-
nize it and trace its origin to the
Biblical account of the origin 'of sin
in humanity. 1t is confirmed by the
human experience of all men. 1t is
true OF the life of u modern sinner
as it vas in the lives of Adam and
Eve. We have no record concern
ing the length of the period they
lived untainted by sin. but our lesson
teaches us in simple, Straightfor-
ward story how in one moment the
tempter invaded the garden and by
his clever. persuasive speech infiu-
enced them to substitute their own
will for the commands of God.
The Temptation.
The serpent is only an incident in
the lesson, yet it was due to his efforts
that sin started among men. In our
Hebrew Bibles, he is referred to as
Nachash, derived from the root mean
ing TO hiss or whisper, but in the
Samaritan manuscripts. which is the
oldest one we possess. he is spoken Of
as Cachash. the liar or deciever. The
last is the title that Jesus gave to
Satan. Serpent is the symbol used
frequently in ancient mythology in
many ways. We know from science
that the serpent is a fallen animal,
which confirms the statements Of this
lesson. The Scriptures tell us that
Satan was a shining son of light. who
was perfect until iniQuity was found
in him. He used the serpent in his
efforts to tempt Eve to disobey Gods
commands concerning eating of the
Tree Of Life.
Everything Of any worth has to be
tested. The form of the temptation
came to Eve by an insinuation of a
distrust of Jehovah. He created a
suspicion of Gods words. Had Eve
known anything about Satan. she
would have fed. Unfortunately she
listened to the suggestions that ques-
toned Gods goodness, faithfulness,
and truthfulneSs. The temper made
her believe that there was something
in it for her by his appealing to her
lust Of the flesh, eyes and pride of
life. His plans remain the same.
They are shallow, short sighted, yet
strong in their natural appeal to
hunger, vain display, and desire to
play the part of q hero god. The
temptations that Jesus faced in the
wilderness and that men must meet
today are along the same general
lines. There is no hut, home, or heart
that can be Theoretically sealed
against the temptations, that test our
souls.
Satan desires US great and small.
AS wheat to sift us. and we all
Are tempted.
Not one however rich or great
Is by his station or estate
EYemDfed