DON’T ACCEPT IT 

God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, filled with every tree that was pleasant to the sight and good for food. Also in the midst of this garden was the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God instructed Adam, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). According to Genesis 2, it is after this that God made Eve.

The scriptures do not reveal how long Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden before the information shared in Genesis 3. In this chapter, the record of a conversation between the serpent and Eve is revealed. In their conversation, the serpent questions and lies to Eve concerning the instructions given to Adam. Eve’s response after this conversation was stated in verse, “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.” Whether Adam was present during the conversation between the serpent and Eve was not stated, but when she took the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate it, he was there because she gave some to him, and he also ate of it.

1 Timothy 2:14 says, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” The dictionary defines deceived as a person causing someone to believe something that is not true, typically to gain some personal advantage. I understand in the case of the serpent and Eve; the serpent was the one that gained a personal advantage for through deception, he caused Eve to open the door to unbelief and disobedience. These acts caused man to lose dominion, and sin entered the world.

Additionally, Adam, the head of the household, the person given authority by God to subdue and have dominion, knew Eve’s action was not right, yet he was cooperative. Adam had the opportunity to speak the truth and subdue the serpent, but he did not. It is each of our responsibility not to accept the lies, insinuations, and promptings of the enemy.

We have the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us. We have the Spirit of Might and the Spirit of Counsel to assist us further. Allowing these attributes to have preeminence in our lives and sharing truth with those in error can cause great spiritual success when needed. Therefore, with boldness at the appropriate time, say these words, “Don’t accept it.”