In the Manchester Art Gallery in England there is a painting by Spencer Stanhope entitled, simply, “Eve.” In it the serpent is whispering ideas into Eve’s ear. You can tell from the look on her face that she likes what she is hearing. She is enticed by the ideas. Unseen by her, the serpent is reaching around behind and bending down the branch of the fruit tree, so that as she becomes caught up in these ideas, a bright red apple falls into her open hand. Although in the painting Eve has not yet taken a bite, nonetheless you know that she has crossed over the line. The combination of ideas playing over in her mind and the bright red apple in her open hand are just too much for her. Paradise is lost. The deep loneliness and estrangement from God have begun. In a very accurate way, the artist has caught the moment of truth that comes with what is called “temptation,” in your…
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