When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.  ~James 1:13-15 ESV

My wife and I love to fish. It is relaxing, and we get to spend time together with nature as our backdrop.

We cast our lines and feel the tug on the line, marking the first catch of the day. Because fish love the taste of night-crawlers, it is only a matter of time before they are hooked.

But Satan fishes also? He tries to lure us with desires, similar to the nightcrawler on the bait that hooks the fish. When we see an enticing lure in front of us, we need to remember that allurement is a risky game with consequences.

Genesis 3 outlines the consequences of falling for Satan’s bait. In this instance, the deceiver questioned God’s Word.

Now the serpent … said to the woman, “Did God actually say …”  ~Genesis 3:1-6

With one nibble on the devil’s bait, Adam and Eve injured their relationship with God. The consequences of sin were grave. Their sin affected their garden paradise and their future. They were in strife and turmoil when their eyes opened to what they had done. They would have to leave the Garden, their children, and their children’s children. Even future generations would be affected. God, in His mercy, cast them out so they would learn to treasure and maintain a right relationship with Him. There was a ripple effect.

Satan attempts to destroy our relationships with God and others. Giving in to temptation is like tossing a stone into a lake. As soon as the rock hits the water, ripples impact the lake farther than we may think possible. It spreads to the other parts of the lake in a ripple effect. This was the case with Adam and Eve. They had no idea falling for Satan’s bait would have such severe consequences.

Yet, we can avoid the ripple effect of temptation by applying God’s Word to our lives.

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

Although we experience a daily barrage of enticements through various avenues such as our televisions, radio, and computers, God gives us a strategy to escape every temptation. We must be watchful and thoughtful in our decision-making. Even so, when we do yield to sin, we have a heavenly Father who is waiting for us to request a pardon.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and grace to us when we fail. ~Hebrews 4:16 ESV

I am so glad that when I fall for the snares in life, God is there to catch me. When I draw near to His throne of grace, He draws near to me. When Adam and Eve fell for the bait of sin, God provided a lamb, symbolic of the Lamb Jesus Christ, as a remedy for their sin. Jesus Christ is still the answer to sin’s enticement. And God’s love also has a ripple effect that extends farther than we can imagine.

Do you run to the throne of grace when you fail? God is merciful, and He wants to make us whole. Name some ways you can avoid sin’s temptation and the ripple effect.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I can draw near to Your throne and receive mercy and grace in times of need.  Thank You that when I am tempted, I can be sure You have made an escape route through Your Word. Help me to store Your words in my heart so that I can avoid the ripple effect of sin. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: The Ripple Effect: Ed Chappelle: All Rights Reserved