Temptation Investigation: Location

This post is post three of a multi-post series. It is best if you read the posts in order. To view the previous post click here.

In Genesis 2 we see that everything was going well for Adam and Eve. God had given Adam a wife who would be his helper, and both of them were given the best spot in town-the Garden of Eden. God had put trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food there, and a river that watered them. All of these things were provided for Adam and Eve and all they had to do was take care of the garden and stay away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yes, life was good for the first two people on earth. That is, until Eve got the first look at temptation.

This first temptation situation changed the lives of Adam and Eve, and all of us after them:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:1-6)

God had given Adam and Eve clear instructions in Genesis 2:16-17 and although they knew they were not allowed to eat from the trees, they didn't avoid them. By putting themselves in the location of a temptation situation, Satan was able to work his evil magic by questioning them in order to make them feel like it was ok to do what they were told not to.

One of the best ways to keep from falling into temptation is to avoid areas where temptation situations are at their most frequent. If you struggle with the temptation of alcohol and drugs, stay away from places where these things are easily accesible. Choose your friends wisely and make sure they help you through your temptation situations, not lead you into them. If you struggle with pornography, don't get on the internet if you are home alone and stay away from stores where pornographic materials are sold. No matter what temptation situations you struggle with, their location is always a factor. Don't make it easier on Satan to make you fail; avoid the locations of temptation situations.