Act Like a ManSample

The First, Worst Decision in the World

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate." —Genesis 3:1-6

“Sin reduces all of us to fools,” Paul D. Tripp wrote. Most guys are fixated on increasing their credit limit, getting sex, and the upcoming weekend. Professional wanderers, these guys often become obese, lustful, and unloving husbands with maxed-out credit cards.

“Crafty” describes the serpent. He was confusing and tricky. God was clear and truthful. Eve started to question God’s Word, “Did God actually say…?” God gave clear instructions, “You’ll die if you eat that.” Notice how Satan called out the negative? He didn’t mention all that God had given with the other trees. Nope, Satan’s the OG for instilling FOMO. He basically said God won’t judge sin. He also questioned God’s goodness, “your eyes will be opened…” (3:5).

If Satan can get you to question God’s Word, you’ll question His character and then His goodness. Question His goodness long enough, and distrust becomes dissatisfaction and then disobedience. God is for us; when we live like He’s against us, we lose.

Quick point: Adam was not deceived into sinning. God was clear. Adam knowingly sinned. You can’t disobey God and not get what you deserve. Manhood falls without courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is moving forward in the face of fear. It’s why, back in 1852, on a ship with troops and civilians, the Birkenhead wrecked. Not having enough lifeboats, soldiers stood “quiet and still ” on board, goes Rudyard Kipling’s poem, allowing women and children to board the lifeboats and escape the sinking ship. Fewer than 193 of the 643 people on board survived. The soldiers' bravery is now known as the Birkenhead Rule or the "women and children first " protocol for abandoning ship.

The Garden of Eden was not an English garden akin to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It was a war zone. Adam was called to courageously follow God’s Word. Rather than obey, Adam joined Eve in willfully sinning in passivity #FailedManhood #NoCourageFound.

How has the fall affected your marriage/relationships, work, family, and your relationship with God?