The Origin of Temptation

Prologue: "...and there was light..." Genesis 1

In various religious texts, specifically the many that span countless centuries and are littered throughout many cultures, there has always been a shared theme. No matter the scriptures or sacred text, one can almost always find a similar story involving a powerful, omnipotent higher power, one that represents the light and virtue in life, and their beautiful, favorite, fallen child of darkness and iniquity. This common story has been told in many parables which have stemmed from as far back as Greek Mythology to verses in the modern-day Christian Bible, and though most differ in detail, they all share a similar outcome. While some of these myths say the child, usually a first or more loved son, fell because they wanted to be all-powerful instead of their creator or parent, others say it was because they were jealous of their creator's love for others. This shared story dates back many years, to the creation of all when the Earth was virgin and new.

The modern Christian Bible, the not-so-accurate but probable originator of this repeated tale, states Lucifer, the favorite son of God, fell prey to the sin of envy, and possibly all of the sins. It is insinuated that Lucifer became jealous and craved power over the Heavens and the Earth. Unfortunately, this is not entirely clear-cut. Like a poor game of Telephone, the masses got the message distorted over time with each duplication, translation, and copy of the story. As a result, the facts got twisted, sometimes accidentally through over-exaggeration or an article that was misunderstood, sometimes for nefarious reasons, to change lessons and morals, and in most instances, to control others. The truth is, Lucifer was never envious of his father, nor did he bear Him any ill will. He never sought to be powerful, nor did he want his Father's title or position as the all-powerful God. He did not wish to take over the Heavens and Earth as their ruler, nor did he wish to be a grand leader of the universe. Most importantly, Lucifer was not jealous of any flawed, lesser creatures that his Father, on occasion, loved more than his perfect angels.

When God created humanity, he did so with the knowledge of how weak, feeble, and easily misguided they could and would be; he did create them, after all. Since His beloved creation could be so easily influenced by their environment and the misguided temptations of others, He asked His angels to watch over every one of the humans, to assist them, and steer them on the correct path of peace, decency, and morality. All of the angels accepted their role, as they had always done. Since they were of God, they did as their Father bade without hesitation, and bestowed wisdom to some humans, while some incited the fear of God to others. Like any good, perfect child would, they listened, did as they were told, and never questioned the word of God, that is, all except one.

Lucifer had stepped forth and spoke out against his creator. He refused to care for the humans like a mother to a child. He did not see it fit for celestial entities to 'bow to humans'. He even went as far as to question God's decision to make a creature that could not care, protect, or think for itself, even if it had been granted free will. He sneered at the idea that God's 'perfect creations' needed others to teach them how to be moral and righteous, that decency and virtue had to be taught. He refused to care for a creature of lesser life and status, for he deemed them useless and not worthy of such divine intervention.

As a result, Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, not as a punishment, but as an opportunity to learn. Many versions of this particular situation would have you believe Lucifer was damned to Hell or some variation described as a pit of brimstone, filled with the cries of those doomed to suffer endless torment. They read that Lucifer was forever banished from Heaven, the Light, and all that God created; however, that isn't entirely accurate. Lucifer was expelled from Heaven, and he was sent below, not to some dark, fiery abyss, but to the land that lay below Heaven, to answer for his negligence and naivety. God sent his son to Earth with the belief that it would serve a purpose. He wanted Lucifer to appreciate Humanity, and to learn of how precious human life truly was. He wanted to teach his son how to appreciate and value a simple, mortal human life as much as his own, regardless of his immortality. However, Lucifer, stubborn and set in his ways, decided to prove his father wrong. He vowed to show God that his mistake, the human race, was a waste of time and matter. He wanted to show God that the humans were too weak-willed to be saved, or guided on the correct path. Most notably, Lucifer wanted to prove to his brother and sister angels that humans were not worthy of salvation, aid, or divine intervention. His goal was to prove God wasn't as omnipotent and wise as he was portrayed, and that even Gods can make foolish, grievous mistakes.

Soon after Lucifer's expulsion, Adam, the first human, was placed on Earth and wondered about the garden, alone. He yearned for companionship. God saw his loneliness and willed an angel to go to Earth to be Adam's wife. This angel was Lilith. Lilith, like most of her honored brother and sister angels, had been obedient to God's will. She had always done what was asked of her and never questioned the will of God, but like a sickness, Lucifer's moment of defiance and spontaneity had started to spread among God's celestial creations, and like Lucifer, Lilith refused to do as her Father bade. She declined to be Adam's wife and told God she would do as the other angels, serve and guide them, but out of pride and self-respect, she refused to love the humans as one would love a spouse. She told God that his request for her to 'aid with procreation or wifely duties' was beneath her, that she would only protect the humans out of obligation.

Since she had defied the will of God, she too was expelled from Heaven to live among the humans, not as punishment, but as a lesson to teach her that humans deserved to be loved, even by a celestial creation. While Eve had been created to take Lilith's place as Adam's wife, Lilith and Lucifer were 'doomed' to wander Earth. God hoped they would learn to love and appreciate human life as He and the rest of His angels did. While Lilith and Lucifer lived on Earth, God watched over them and the humans, and observed his children, all the more interested in the events that unfolded over the many years to come.