The Science of Temptation: Eyes, Brain, and Genesis 3

Genesis 3

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

In the light of the fall of man and the principles of science, the eyes and the brain serve as the primary physical channels through which temptation is processed, potentially leading to the degradation of our moral and spiritual faculties.

The Mechanism of Temptation in Genesis 3

The fall of humanity began when the physical senses were used to bypass the restraint of reason and faith.

• The serpent successfully tempted Eve by leading her to distrust God's wisdom and to rely instead on her own perceptionDD 13.3+1.

• Eve was deceived into thinking that the forbidden fruit possessed a power to make one wise, an idea she accepted by cherishing the words of the tempter over the explicit command of God3SG 43.1.

• When she looked upon the tree, her eyes became the medium for a "serpent’s charm," painting forbidden pleasure in dazzling colorsARSH June 12, 1856, page 51.8.

• Adam, though not deceived in the same manner, allowed his love for Eve to overbear his loyalty to the Creator, choosing to share her fate rather than trust in Infinite Power 1 Timothy 2:14PP 56.2.

• By partaking of the tree of knowledge, they lost their holy innocence and gained an acquaintance with evil that has shadowed the race ever since3SG 45.1.

The Brain Nerves as the Medium for Divine Communication

Science and revelation agree that the nervous system is the bridge between the human and the divine.

• The brain nerves are the only medium through which Heaven can communicate with man and affect his inmost lifeTEd 126.4+1.

• Any habit or influence that disturbs the circulation of electric currents in the nervous system deadens the sensibilities of the mind and makes it difficult to arouse the moral nature1MCP 230.6+1.

• Satan directs his strongest temptations toward the physical nature because enfeebling the body often leads to the surrender of the whole being to evil2MCP 406.4.

• A perfectly balanced mind requires that all organs and propensities be in subjection to the higher powers of reason and the will of GodCD 147.1+1.

The Role of the Eyes and Imagination

The eyes and the mind's eye (the imagination) play a critical role in molding character.

• What we allow ourselves to look upon and think of most frequently transfers itself to us and exerts a molding influence on our lifeLYL 61.2.

• Satan fastens the imagination on impure or unlawful things to work his deceptionsLYL 61.2.

• The "lust of the eye" and the desire for worldly excitement are nets designed to lead the mind away from Jesus and toward degradationT12 74.1+1.

• In contrast, by beholding the divine Model, Christ, we become like Him in characterLYL 61.2+1.

• The eye is a wonderful organ connected directly to the brain via the optic nerve; its health is essential for us to experience joys and avoid injuriesHBH 111.3+1.

Physiological Factors in Resisting Temptation

The condition of the brain and nervous system directly impacts the ability to resist sin.

• Intemperance in eating and drinking excites the nervous system, clouds the brain, and weakens the power to resist temptationCH 124.1+1.

• Appetite is one of the strongest points of temptation; when it is not under the control of a sanctified mind, the brain becomes benumbed and reason loses the reins to lust1MCP 144.2+2.

• Tobacco and other narcotics act as subtle poisons that paralyze the nerves and make the mind unfit for the reception of spiritual messages3T 562.1+2.

• Physical health is maintained by what we eat, and our diet has much to do with our disposition to commit sinCD 52.2.

• Mothers are warned that teaching children to love outward display and frivolous pleasures "bends the twig," causing the mind to become absorbed in vanity rather than GodST December 9, 1875, par. 8.

Restoration through Spiritual and Physical Reform

The remedy for the damage caused by the fall involves a deliberate use of the mind and senses for God's glory.

• We must make a "covenant with our eyes" and resolutely discard reading or sights that cultivate an unholy imaginationARSH June 12, 1856, page 51.8+1.

• The Holy Spirit loves to discover the beauties of God's word to the mind, creating a familiarity with divine things that acts as a barricade against temptationMYP 246.2+1.

• Through the renewing of the mind and the presentation of our bodies as a living sacrifice, we can prove the perfect will of God Romans 12:1-26LtMs, Lt 44, 1890, par. 3.

• Prayer and meditation are essential for settling the heart and preparing the mind to enter the presence of GodARSH December 4, 1856, page 33.10.

• By looking to Jesus, the Great Physician, we can find strength for our eyesight, clarity for our brain, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit18LtMs, Lt 180, 1903, par. 2+1.

• Ultimately, the Lord calls us to "anoint our eyes with eyesalve" that we may truly see our condition and be zealous to repent Revelation 3:1816LtMs, Ms 108, 1901, par. 18+1.