Temptation: A Spiraling Reality

This Sunday in Quest, we talked about cheating.  In that discussion we touched on the ways that cheating can create a spiraling reality.  For example, cheating on a test will create the "need" to lie in order to cover it.  Sin leads to sin.  In some ways this is not only true for cheating but for any temptation.  It is almost as if any time we are tempted to do something God does not want us to do, we risk getting deeper than we initially thought we would.

So, on that theme, here is a Bible passage to think on for the week.  In Genesis chapter 4, we get the story of Cain and Abel.  Cain and Abel were brothers... both were sons of Adam and Eve.  They both made a sacrifice to God in order to worship.  When Cain's sacrifice was not as pleasing as Abel's, Cain was tempted to do evil to Abel.  God says one of the scariest lines in the Bible.  He could tell Cain was up to no good.  So he said to him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Essentially, the temptation Cain was facing had huge ramifications.  If Cain chose to give in to his temptation (which he did), then it wasn't just about that sin.  Sin itself desired to own him.  So temptation for Cain was a doorway to a reality... a struggle as much as a single event.  Chew on that for a while.  WWJDSI!  (For our current  prayer ideas click more.)