Are we the “Eves at the forbidden tree” in others lives?

First the Genesis account:  ”He [the serpent] said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, ³ 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.’” ⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ 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 3:1b-6

As we all know, this is the story of how SIN entered the world. The serpent was in the garden, tempted Eve with food (go figure that it was food), Eve ate it, and then Eve gave it to Adam and he ate. They both disobeyed God. Despite the fact that Eve was the one who was tempted and took the first bite God still blamed Adam who then in turn blamed Eve and God by saying “it was the woman whom YOU gave me.” This may be in part because Adam was noted as being “with her” but this is not what I want to focus on this time. For this time I want to focus on Eve’s actions only.

The words that stuck out to me were: “and she also gave some to...” Eve gave something to her husband which in turn caused him to sin. This caused me to really examine my own life. Do I “give” things to my husband that cause him to sin? Do I “give” things to my friends or family that cause them to sin? I bet you’re wondering whatever could I mean? Let me explain.

Recently some women in our church, who were long time members, were posting things on social media websites that were controversial and opposed some of the ministries and people that our church supported.  They felt that so-in-so and “that” ministry were wrong so they felt it was their mission to tell everyone.   Let me preface this by saying that the Bible has biblical and foundational truths that MUST NEVER be compromised! But these things were not one of those areas. They were attempting to “poison” others with their cause. Eventually things did not end well and the families ended up choosing to leave our church.

Now, that is a dramatic example. But what about us? Do we poison our husband? Friends? Family? with gossip, crude humor, or inappropriate things? Do our actions cause someone else to sin?

I asked myself this very question and I was stuck by two things. 1. I do cause other people to sin by my actions. I say things I shouldn’t. I do things I shouldn’t. But not only  I was sinning against my Father in heaven but my  actions were are also causing others to sin too! It’s easy to dismiss our own sins at times but to think that I am causing a rift between someone else and their Father in heaven hurt me deeply. It caused me to be more conscientious of my own actions and how they affect others. Secondly, are my actions reflecting Christ to those who don’t believe in Him? If not, then I am poisoning their ideas and what Christianity is supposed to look like, thereby, only distancing them further from eternal salvation.  How careful we must be.

So I am challenging you readers with this: “and she also gave some to...” Who and what are you giving to others? Is it the fruit of life? Or the fruit of division and death?

Deodorant is for the Gym – Not your Christian walk


After many long months of procrastination, I decided it was time to get in shape. Knowing myself, I knew I would need more than an “ok let’s do this” attitude, so I invited a friend along to keep me accountable. Unfortunately, the only time that worked for the both us busy moms was a 6:45 a.m. start time. SIGH! Nevertheless, we decided to start the following day. Being that her house was on the way to the gym, we planned that I would pick her up promptly at 6:30 a.m. so we could both be back before the chaos at home begins.

Naturally, on our first day I slept in until 6:28 a.m.; so of course, I bolted out of bed, put my sweats on, scarfed down a banana, and flew to her house. All was well, aside from the friendly glare I got. So when we arrived, we chit chatted, changed our shoes, stumbled to figure out how to operate the machines (if I can build a castle out of Lego without directions, I can do this!), and started on the treadmills. About 15 minutes into walking I realized, though smelling, that I had forgotten to put on deodorant! Completely mortified, I tried to reason in my head “she’s far enough away – she won’t smell me”, and “everyone stinks when they sweat right?” Thankfully, I don’t think she noticed but it distracted me for my entire work out. I couldn’t focus, I was quieter that I would have been, I probably was a little stand offish, and all because I was worried about being offensive in smell to one of my best friends.

Once home, and in the shower, I was contemplating my potentially embarrassing omission. I was reminded of a scripture verse in the Bible: 2 Corinthians 2: 15 & 16 “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” In our culture today we are so fixated on “keeping the peace” and not being “offensive” with people, that we forget that the Bible tells us that we bring the smell of death to people who are perishing! How many of us put deodorant on our faith in order to “not be offensive?” Hiding what we believe, not standing up for truth, and maybe even partaking in things that we ought not to, all for the sake of “not offending someone.” I am not suggesting that we should go around purposely offending people by shoving the Bible down their throats, or casting judgement on them; absolutely not! God’s word tells us that HE will judge unbelievers – not us. Our obligation, as the Bible tells us, is to speak truth into their lives with the love of God expressed through our actions and attitudes, and by holding fast to Biblical truths even if it means offending someone.

Too many of us put deodorant on to cover up the “working out” that God want to do through us. If we compromise on what we believe or try and hide or cover it up, I believe in God’s eyes we are hypocrites who don’t smell. God tell us we should smell! Too believers, we’ll smell good and we will encourage them. To unbelievers, we will smell like death. You know, smelling like death may not sound all that desirable but I can tell you from my own walk before I accepted Christ as my Saviour that God used someone who had the “smell of death” as a personal wake up call for me. I was drawn in because I knew from their “smell” that something wasn’t right in my life and I needed to stop procrastination and get in shape! Thank you Jesus for using that person in my life!

I want to encourage all of your Christians who are afraid of “stinking it up” that your “smell” might be used in someone’s life, as it was in mine, to bring truth and bring another person into the kingdom of Christ.

Keep the deodorant for the gym and not your Christian life – stink it up!