In Genesis,we read about mankind being made in "the image of God," with intellect, will and emotions, as well as morally, like God. One thing is not mentioned yet it, too, is characteristic of God--desire. In the beginning, mankind's desire was pure and uncorrupted. Like God, mankind's desire was for good (Proverbs 11:213). God's desire is carried out in His will and so is mankind's. Jesus taught His disciples to pray as He did, "Thy will be done," meaning, "Your desires, O Lord my God, be fulfilled." Mankind's desires were being fulfilled in God in the beginning. God put a limit on mankind's having all he might desire--"Of every other tree in the garden, you may eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat lest you die."

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God has made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'" (Gen.3:1) The first arousal to sin comes with a deceitful presentation of God's Word. Although the woman corrects the serpent in that only from the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil) "in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" (Gen 3:3) Here we see that the woman has expanded God's command to include "touching" not just eating. The second arousal to sin is activated when we interpret God's Word for our own benefit. The third arousal to sin occurs when we directly countermand God's Word--"And the serpent said to the woman, 'You surely shall not die!'" (Gen.3:4). The fourth arousal to sin is to present sin as being more delightful and self-gratifying than obedience to God's Word (see Gen.3:5). The next arousal to sin occurs when we begin to convince ourselves that what God forbids (because it is deadly)looks good, could satisfy a need and make us better than, or at least equal to God or someone else(see Gen.3:6). The last arousal to sin is to put your desire for the forbidden above all other considerations and take action (Gen 3:6).

Jesus instructed His disciples on how to quench the arousal to sin in Matthew 6:41, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." In Luke 22:46, "and said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.'" Temptation (the arousal to sin) is with us, whether a follower of Christ or not. God, in His mercy through Jesus Christ, has provided a "way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13)--PRAYER. Seek God in prayer when you are alerted to temptation's presence by Christ's Spirit within you, dear Christian! "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert" (Hebrews 3:7,8). Think about it.