Lust and
the Consequences of Sin
Lucifer Becomes Satan
Today, many
people have heard in the news about rape, violence, and murder. Often, these go
hand in hand. These horrible actions are the results of giving place to sin in
various forms.
Sin is an
abomination to God and it is really a form of rebellion. It started with God’s
highest ranking angel, Lucifer. Lucifer was the director of Heavenly worship
(as can be found in Ezekiel 28:13-14). Not content with his high position, he
wanted to be worshipped as God.
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the
morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into
heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be
like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of
the pit.
Lucifer
(meaning “Light Bearer”) was cast out of God’s holy kingdom and his name was
changed to Satan (meaning “Deceiver”). Satan wanted to get revenge. How
humiliating it was to be defeated by God’s angels. He came to the Earth where
God had just created man, named Adam, in God’s image.
Eve, who God
created from a rib God had taken from Adam’s side, was in the garden minding
her own business when a serpent (possessed by Satan) came her way. At that
time, serpents could walk and did not slither (see Genesis 3:14).
Satan’s Deception
Satan, in
the serpent, saw the opportunity to deceive Eve and lead her to rebel against
God. At this time, there was no sin. Adam and Eve were perfect and sinless, but
they still had a free will. Genesis 3 describes man’s downfall.
Genesis 3
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest
ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,
she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with
her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that
they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves
aprons.
Adam and Eve
knew that God had told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. When they did, in rebellion against God, they were given the ability to
discern good from evil. With knowledge of sin, they felt exposed and
vulnerable. They wanted to hide and cover themselves as if doing so could hide
their sin. But, God was not fooled. He knew what they had done.
God
confronts the rebellious couple and declares what the consequences of their sin
will be. Adam will have hard labor to provide for his daily needs. Eve will
have difficulty in child-bearing. In addition, they both will not live forever
(in their present bodies), but will age and die.
God then
tells the serpent that he will crawl on his belly and eat dust. God also tells
the serpent (or Satan):
Genesis 3:15 (bold added)
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Jesus Christ
(who came in the form of a man to pay for our sins) is the seed of the woman
who bruised or crushed the serpent’s head, which is a fatal blow to Satan. Through
Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord, we are able to conquer and overcome
temptation.
Now, Satan
was not finished with Adam’s race. He wanted to destroy ever son or daughter of
Adam he could and he still does (that includes you and me). Satan is crafty and
subtle, like a snake. He tempts us where we are weak. Because of our fallen,
sinful nature, Satan (or his minions) can tempt us to lie, cheat, hate, or
steal.
Another sin
Satan tempts us with is lust, or sexual desire. This is a topic that all people
have to face. It is not comfortable to talk about and it is not easy to deal
with because sin can be very tempting.
The Bible,
God’s Word, is very clear about the results of lust. The book of Proverbs warns
about lust throughout it. The author (including the Holy Spirit) knew this is
important).
The Strange Woman and Temptation
Proverbs 2:10-16
says that God’s wisdom will deliver a man from wicked men and also from a
strange woman (or an adulterous woman).
Proverbs 2:16-19 says:
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the
stranger which flattereth with her words;
17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the
covenant of her God.
18 For her house
inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19 None that go unto
her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
This strange
woman’s house “inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.” What is this
death, verse 18 speaks of?
