THE SERPENT'S SEDUCTION
It is undeniable that there is in every human being a desire to be the best among of others. If there is no, it is because the rigors of life or deep reflection have eliminated or reduced that will. But deep down, we are all in search of riches, fame and power. We want to be highlighted, be recognized as important, to climb the highest positions and be admired. Our greed has no limit, so we're never satisfied. We always want more and more. There is a latent prepotence in some of us and, in profusion, in others. We want to be like God.
This is what aroused the interest of the first couple for the forbidden fruit. God had told him not to eat that fruit, for they would die. The "serpent", however, said to Eve, “for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”(Genesis 3:5). "At this point, the nature of original sin is revealed, for the serpent's speech has cast doubt on God's honesty towards the human being." Adamic sin was then more than a simple disobedience. Seduced by the desire to be "like God", he doubted the divine character and listened to the Tempter [1].
This aspect of human nature, that is, its desire for prominence over others, prints a climate of competition in relationships. People don't just want to improve self, but to be superior to others. This spirit of dispute that has dominated human history since the Fall has given rise to this model of world that we have today, characterized by the dominion of man by man. It is in this aspect of man that the origin of slavery is found that exists to this day, of the racial prejudice, wars and the emergence, throughout history, of the great world empires.
We have lost our essence in the “original sin” and now to feel relevant we want to have power over others. As they headed to Jerusalem for the last time, the Apostles James and John approached Jesus in particular and made the following request: “let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory”. They thought Jesus was going to make a rebellion, expel the Romans, and take the throne of Israel, and therefore asked for important positions. But Jesus gathered them together and said that between them it would not be so… “instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10.37,43,44).
We must, yes, be like God, but in love, purity and holiness, for by doing so we approached the being we were before the first sin. The greed awakened in Eve by the serpent altered his vision of things. It's like the snake said, "your eyes will open". Now man doesn't see God and sees the next one as someone he can explore. That's why Jesus spoke those words to the disciples. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Philippians, said something similar: “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above youselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" (2,3,4).
In Eden, man took the path of arrogance and, with this, had his nature altered, going on to experience death. To return to the original condition, just taking the path of humility. That's why Jesus entered the world to teach us this path. About this, Paul said, “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness… therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…” (Philippians 2.5-9). One day we will be like God, that is, we will have the image and likeness of God, as in Eden before the Fall, if we have "the same attitude of Christ" to empty ourselves and trust in his sacrifice on the cross.
Antônio Maia - M. Div.
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[1] MAIA, Antônio. O Homem em Busca de Si. São Paulo: www.amazon.com.br
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