Considering Temptation

Mark Twain's The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg is a chilling tale. It deals with a town that prides itself about its integrity. Turns out that when tempted, the integrity is veneer deep. With what James says about how temptation is not sin, but a precursor, I think I (we) would do well to give temptation more regard. If we could just have a converation with God, ourselves, or an advisor during a temptation, we might consider passing on the sin. If someone could have talked with Eve in the garden, she might have heard, "Come on, Eve. God has been good to us. He has never failed us. What do we really know about the snake in the tree? It seems to me he is being a snake in the grass and trying to ruin a good thing. Tell him to get lost." What a difference considering temptation makes!