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 3:1-7 ESV)

Choices, choices, choices. Which car should I buy? Which paint should we use? What college should I go to? Everyday life is filled with choices. These choices are always things we should do or things we should not do.

The most important decision you have to make hangs on the impact of sin. Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent to disobey God’s command.

Discussion: How can we protect ourselves from Satan’s snares?

Talking Points: Choose Scripture. The serpent misquotes God and tells them that God lied to them. Knowing God’s word and putting faith in God’s word will protect you from the enemy’s lies. Choose accountability. It is easy to choose sin when you have no one to answer to. When you have to confess your sin, sinning does not seem as appealing.

Consequences. Every choice we make comes with a consequence. ALWAYS. Adam and Eve received very severe consequences for disobeying God. Adam was given pain while working in the fields and death. Eve was given pain in childbirth. We often blame our problems on Adam and Eve. Here is the deal: just like Adam and Eve, we have a choice not to sin. Our consequences represent our choices.

Discussion: What are practical ways to consider consequences before you make a choice?

Talking Points: Will it impact your relationship with God? Every sin is a sin against God. Will it impact your relationship with your wife, kids, parents, or friends? Our choices will affect us, but it will also affect those around you.

The hope that God gave to Adam and Eve was that her offspring would be the one to defeat the serpent. His name is Jesus. He did defeat Satan. If you are in Christ, Satan no longer has power over you. You are a beloved child of God.