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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15-17

This is one of the first passages that grabbed my attention when I first came to know the Lord. I was 21, wild as the wind, and was going nowhere fast. After salvation, I had no idea what to read, what to do, where to start; but I knew I was different and that something had changed inside of me.

Notice this verse points to three things: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Where have we seen this before?

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6

Do you notice the similarities? Eve saw the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and desirable to make one wise (pride of life). These three things have been with us since the beginning of recorded time and we still struggle with them. Look at how Jesus was tempted. Look familiar?

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Matthew 4:1-10

Jesus was tempted with the same basic attack as Eve: command these stones be made bread (lust of the flesh), throw yourself down (pride of life — 'prove who you say you are'), and showed him all the kingdoms and offered to give them to him (lust of the eyes).

Eve caved at the task but not Jesus. Jesus responded to Satan how? Positive thoughts and vibes? Wishful thinking? Love and light? No. He responded with THE WORD OF GOD. Please read that again. The Word of God. Get it in you. Make it part of you. Meditate on it. Hang your hat on it. Teach it to your children. My daughter is sitting here and adds, "ask the Holy Spirit to guide you."

Choose not to be like Adam & Eve. Don't let what you want, see, and desire override your commitment to God's Word. He who dies with the most toys, still dies and what shall it profit someone to gain the entire world, all while forfeiting their soul? (Mark 8:36, Matthew 16:26)