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. Then the eyes of both were opened .... Genesis 3:6-7a

There is a restaurant in Britain named Burger Off.

Recently, two reporters, Arron Hendy and Ruari Barratt, were sent to Burger Off to review the XXX Hot Chilli Burger.

Like Eve, the reporters saw the burger was good for food, a delight to the eye, and something which could make them wise. Well, actually that last part, about "being wise" is a bit of a stretch. Truly, the reporters should have been wise before they ate of the forbidden "fruit."

You see the XXX Chilli Burger measures in at approximately eight million units on the heat food scale. The reporters may not have known anything about the heat food scale, but they should have known eight million is not a small number, and it also means the XXX Chilli Burger is HOT.

The second clue to avoid the XXX should have been more obvious: before they could eat the XXX the reporters had to sign a release form which said the restaurant was not responsible for anything that might happen to them.

Well, to make a long story short, like Adam and Eve, the reporters did eat. And, as the Bible says, "Their eyes were opened." Both reporters were done in by one bite of the XXX. It didn't take too long before they complained about severe stomach pains, shaky hands, and the feeling they might pass out.

When Barratt's eyes rolled back in his head, the duo were taken to the hospital.

Now there is a lesson here: whether you are seriously considering the Garden of Eden's forbidden fruit or a red-hot burger, you need to think twice. Well, actually, forget about nibbling at temptations at all. Released from the hospital, the reporters gave a bit of sage advice to all who wish to try the XXX. They said, "Don't."

I doubt if people will listen. When it comes to temptation, we humans think we will succeed where others have failed. That's what we think -- just before we fail. That's why the Bible says, "There is not a just man on the earth who always does good and never sins" (see Ecclesiastes 7:20).

It is also why the Bible tells us God sent His Son into this world to save everyone who has failed to resist temptation. For us and our eternal salvation Jesus was born. His life was spent accomplishing everything that was necessary so we could be saved from sin, death, devil and the desire to eat of the forbidden burger.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive my disobedience and the attitude which says I can handle temptation. I can't. Grant me a thankful heart for Jesus having rescued and restored me from my own foolishness. In His Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 113-115    1 Thessalonians 3

To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"