[Biblemat] A) CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREE

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday morning
to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here is an article from 
my files:

CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

       It is easy to get so close to a temptation that we lose our per-
spective.  It may be something as small as a rumor that we knew
shouldn't be passed along, but the urge to "tell it" blocked out
our sense of good judgment.  It may be something that we have 
made our mind up about that we are going to do.  We are there-
fore unable to see the right way!

       Adam and Eve faced a similar problem long ago.  They be-
came so preoccupied with "one tree" in their garden paradise
that they couldn't see the forest for the tree (Gen. 2:17; 3:3).

       Just look at what it cost them.  The Garden of Eden had been
created especially for them (Gen. 2:8).  In it they knew no evil, no
trials, no sickness, and no death.  They enjoyed the company of
the Creator Himself.  Yet they gave up all they had just to eat of
the fruit of that "one" forbidden tree.

       Their mistake is eerily similar to ours.  How often do we miss
the entire forest of God's goodness for a single tree of temptat-
ion?  The moment of enticement seems so overwhelming, the
idea so irresistible, and our logic so twisted.

       Please think about all Adam and Eve left behind in the Garden.  We 
need to fill our minds with the truth of God's Word.
We need to rely on Him for strength and guidance.  Resist the
temptations that come our way (Jas. 4:7).  Then we can experien-
ce the joy of God's blessing rather than temporary pleasure.
Heaven (our inheritance) is imperishable, undefiled and will not
fade away (1 Pet. 1:4).  It is waiting for God's people.  "Blessed
is the man who endures temptation...he will receive the crown of
life..."  (Jas. 1:12).   ------------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, 
Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2008.   </HTML>
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