How not to be deceived....

But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of pure devotion to Christ. 

2 Corinthians 11:3

Our minds are under constant attack and unfortunately we live under deception most of time. That is what Paul is talking about in the scripture above. But how that happens? 

The word "corrupted" mentioned means "moved down from a higher level (quality, status) to a lower form"; our minds get corrupted every time our focus turns to the negative things in our lives, for instance. That was the weapon the serpent used in order to deceive Eve.

 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden... 

Genesis 2:16 (AMP)

There was a bunch of trees that man could freely eat from. When we think of a "garden", we usually have a picture of a tiny little place with a few plants and trees... but that was not Eden´s reality! Just think that all today´s existing plants and animals fit that "garden". SO there was a LOT of good things that God gave the man so that he could FREELY enjoy and be happy with. 

...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.

Genesis 2:17

God only made ONE RESTRICTION. We tend to see restrictions as something bad, but what we see as PROHIBITION and mere CONTROL, God sees it as PROTECTION. Our minds are corrupted from seeing things as what they really are by applying to them a negative sense. 

For example, out of 10 things in our lives, let´s say that 8 of them are good and 2 of them are not so good at the moment. We tend to overlook the 8 good things and turn our eyes and energy towards the 2 bad things. That is what the serpent did to Eve.

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve [disciples]? And yet one of you is a devil (ally of Satan).”  Now He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve [disciples], was about to betray Him.

John 6:70-71

Jesus also experienced such "temptation"! Amongst his 12 disciples, 1 of them was a betrayer -an enemy! Although Jesus was fully aware of that THE WHOLE TIME, his heart was not troubled or grieved because of this ONE person. Knowing that fact didn´t ruin Jesus´ days, weeks, months, years! He kept his focus towards the 11 good ones who were to keep changing the world after Jesus was gone to the Father. 

May our eyes be fixed on the good things with which the Lord has blessed us. May we learn not to see some restrictions are mere prohibitions but as ways of being protected and guarded. May our eyes be turned not to the ONE tree, but to the WHOLE FOREST before us, given us for our delight as a token of GOD´s goodness! That will create in us a thankful heart and a thankful heart will keep us happy through our days on earth!

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits 

Psalm 103:2

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