Behind every form of temptation is some form of distortion. Several such distortions can be seen from the first recorded temptation. Here we see the devil presenting himself as a good guy. He came across to the woman as someone showing the light, connecting her to what she had been missing and how to enjoy a much richer life than what she already had. Paul the apostle wrote to the Corinthians and warned them about the prevalence of false gospel workers. He pointed out that such fake workers acted to type, just like the devil who had mastered the art of decoy. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14 NKJV)
If we must overcome temptations, we must constantly relate our perceptions and interpret our values with the word of God.
Temptation also seeks to distort God’s image. When the woman told the devil that if they touched the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die, the devil countered that they would not die. He further stressed that on the day that they eat it, their eyes would be open and they would become like God. The devil called God a liar. He portrayed God as keeping the best away from His creation. That is calling a dog a bad name to hang it. The couple was already like God. They were already having the best life in Eden. That reality was distorted. Finally, the woman’s sense of value was distorted. Succeeding verses said that she saw that the tree was good for the eyes and meet for consumption. What God identified as dangerous became attractive to her. If we must overcome temptations, we must constantly relate our perceptions and interpret our values with the word of God. Jesus overcame temptations by the written word. There has not been a better invention ever since.