Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Desire (01/17/05)
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TITLE: Forbidden Fruit | Previous Challenge Entry
By Chris Miller
01/21/05 -
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peered cunningly at the young couple basking in the warm afternoon
sunlight. Their obvious contentment made him cringe. Hatred filled his
black heart as he mulled over his one desire, his driving obsession: They
must die! He’d been stalking them in the garden, watching every move.
Their evening walks with God particulary galled him. How could the
divine being endure these creatures!
The serpent had listened carefully as God warned the pair, “You
may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree
which is in the midst of the garden, you shall not eat it, nor shall you
touch it, lest you die.” Genesis 3:2,3 (NKJV) Spasms of cruel laughter
spewed from his being. If Adam and Eve had his bent for selfrule,
desire for the forbidden fruit would eventually become all consuming.
He had only to bide his time. Perhaps, he would befriend the
unsuspecting couple, particularly the beautiful female . Hmmm! The
power of persuasion was one of his strongest points. Hadn’t he led a
large band of fallen angels with him into banishment from heaven? Yes,
the plan was forming. If he’d lost paradise, then no one else was going
to have that opportunity either! He rehearsed the lines with syrupy
sweetness, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you
eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil.” Genesis 3:4,5 ( NKJV) He practiced emphasizing just the
right words. Oh, what a performance he would give!
By chance he found Eve alone one morning gathering fruit for
breakfast. The serpent engaged her in conversation, drawing her
attention back to THE tree. It was always best to remind someone of
what she couldn’t have in order to breed discontent. He needled her,
“Has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
Genesis 3:1 ( NKV) He became a salesman, extolling the virtues of this
beautiful, luscious fruit, reminding Eve of the wisdom she’d receive
from indulging.
Her resistance began to fade. She cautiously approached and circled
the tree from a safe distance. Each circle brought her closer to the
trunk. All she had to do was reach up and pluck the golden orb from a
low hanging branch. She raised her palm to touch the fruit. The
serpent encouraged this exploration by wondering aloud if the texture
was as velvety as it looked. As she stroked the fruit, it somehow fell
into her hand. She seemed mesmerized as she simply stared at it. The
serpent, however, lost patience. He assued her that it would be as
succulent as it was beautiful. Slowly, she raised the prize to her lips and
took a bite. She was amazed at the delicate flavor. The serpent was
correct; she hadn’t died.
Heart pounding, the serpent slipped away. His success was
intoxicating. Curiosity, however, stopped him. He’d seen Adam
approaching the tree from the corner of his eye. This was too good to be
true! Rather than chastising her for breaking the rules, he too gazed at
the fruit with yearning. Eve lifted it to his mouth, touching it to his
lips. Adam succumbed to her gesture and also bit into the tantalizing
fruit. The serpent could barely contain his shrieks of domonic pleasure.
He noticed with delight that their demeanor was changing. They
looked aghast at each other. Crouching in the foliage, they started
ripping leaves from nearby bushes to cover their nakedness. Their
former calm and contentment was replaced by fear and confusion.
Angry words seemed to be passing back and forth between the two. Oh,
this was great!
Suddenly, all three were aware of God’s presence in the garden. The
divine being seemed to be asking a rhetorical question, “Have you eaten
from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
Genesis 11:3 (NKJV) Adam couldn’t think of an appropriate response,
so he blamed Eve. She, in turn, turned to the snake who thought he was
hidden from view and accused him of deceiving her. Now what was he
in for?
When God condemned him to crawling on his belly, the serpent took
it in stride. This wouldn’t keep him from his dirty work. Who knew
what mischief he could cause even as Adam and Eve left the garden.
Oh, no, he would never give up. He slithered off content in his own
self-deception. One day, his head would be bruised by the Son of God.
For now, ignorance was bliss for him as he crawled away in the
afternoon sunlight.
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