Pleasant external appearances and desirable knowledge are not necessarily of God

Genesis 3:6

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“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6

Eve succumbed to the serpent’s temptation, which targeted the physical senses and carnal desires of the flesh as usual. The forbidden fruit appealed to her as food, was pleasant to look at, and gave her uncanny knowledge and enlightenment. She gave her husband, Adam, the forbidden fruit of sin and death to eat and since humankind has been exposed to the consequences. Temptations in life are appealing at first, but they can lead to regrettable outcomes once we give in to them. The Holy Spirit urges us to pay attention to the inner person rather than the external looks, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Our five senses are limited by the physical realm and does not perceive the spiritual. They tempt us to indulge in worldly pleasures, but the Spirit can help us resist such allurements. For example, a Christmas tree may look and smell pleasant and hold a lot of gifts under the branches, but the true meaning of Christmas lies in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Christmas is not meant to be shared according to our physical senses, but the Spirit of the season is meant to be shared through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God…” Romans 8:6-7

Eve sought wisdom by what she saw through her natural senses, but the wisdom of God differs greatly from the wisdom of this world, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 and James 3:17-18

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11