DOUBTLESS those apples look very tempting; yet our dear little friends must turn away. The apples do not belong to them, and it would be wrong to take them. This dear boy and girl know well enough they must not touch the tempting fruit; yet this very fact makes them wish all the more to have some.
If my little reader finds himself thus face to face with temptation to do wrong of any kind, let him not stand, like these dear children, looking and longing, but turn resolutely away, or the battle will be lost, and he will be found committing sin.
Conscience quickly tells us when we have done wrong, but gives us no power to avoid sinning. God alone can give us power to keep from sin.
It was when Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, and much to be de sired to make one wise, that she partook and gave also to her husband. She did not turn away from the tempter’s voice, but she listened to him; she saw the fruit, and the next moment she had sinned.
Thus it was that sin came into the world, and O, what a sad story it is. From the very moment that Eve in the garden of Eden disobeyed the direct command of God, down to the present day, it forms one long, sad, dark story. Yet there is a bright side also, for God, with whom all things are possible, is going to make a new heaven and a new earth, in which shall dwell righteousness.
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23.)
May each one of us say from our heart,
“PRESERVE ME, O, GOD; FOR IN THEE DO I PUT MY TRUST.” Psa. 16:1
ML 10/28/1917