The Temptation
In the desolate wilderness, Christ was not in so favorable a position
to endure the temptations of Satan as was Adam when he was tempted
in Eden. The Son of God humbled Himself and took man’s nature
after the race had wandered four thousand years from Eden, and from
their original state of purity and uprightness. Sin had been making its
terrible marks upon the race for ages; and physical, mental, and moral
degeneracy prevailed throughout the human family.
When Adam was assailed by the tempter in Eden, he was without
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the taint of sin. He stood before God in the strength of perfect manhood.
All the organs and faculties of his being were equally developed, and
harmoniously balanced.
Christ, in the wilderness of temptation, stood in Adam’s place
to bear the test he failed to endure. Here Christ overcame in the
sinner’s behalf, four thousand years after Adam turned his back upon
the light of his home. Separated from the presence of God, the human
family had been departing, each successive generation, farther from
the original purity, wisdom, and knowledge which Adam possessed
in Eden. Christ bore the sins and the infirmities of the race as they
existed when He came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race,
with the weaknesses of fallen man upon Him, He was to stand the
temptations of Satan upon all points on which man could be assailed.
Adam was surrounded with everything his heart could wish. Every
want was supplied. There was no sin, and no signs of decay in glorious
Eden. Angels of God conversed freely and lovingly with the holy pair.
The happy songsters carolled forth their free, joyous songs of praise to
their Creator. The peaceful beasts in happy innocence played around
Adam and Eve, obedient to their word. Adam was in the perfection of
manhood, the noblest of the Creator’s works. He was in the image of
God, but a little lower than the angels.
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