Temptation – Valerie Cullers

Temptation – we all deal with it. It comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and types. So let’s look at a few and what we need to do about them.

Obvious:

The easiest kind of temptation to identify is the obvious kind. What are we not supposed to be doing? Most of us have a list of those things we need to keep away from. So how do we do it when confronted directly by them? First, identify it in our minds. Second, make a conscious choice to not indulge in it. And third, turn around and walk away. The Scripture says, “But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 It sounds simple, but it can be very difficult. If we make the choice to turn away at the very start of the temptation, we have a much greater chance of not falling into it.

Subtle:

This kind of temptation is much harder to identify in the beginning. It just sneaks up on us and then wham, we are right in the center of it. This kind of temptation usually comes with a thought that flies through our minds; we don’t even recognize it, it is there, and then it is gone. A while later, it comes into our minds again, lingers a bit and vanishes. Again, we take no thought of it. This begins to happen over and over during the day, and at the end of the day, we realize we have been fighting a battle in our minds and have not even recognized it. That thought has come in so many times, that it has begun to take root. Again, we need to Identify it, Reject it, and Evict it. Joyce Meyer said, “Frisk every thought.” I will add, “at the door of your mind.” Excellent advice. The sooner we recognize it, the sooner we can evict it.

Manageable:

This is the kind of temptation that makes the Enemy of our Souls laugh. We realize we have a weak area, but we make excuses or provision for it. We say to ourselves, “Well, I can handle this temptation.” We may be an alcoholic, but tell ourselves we will be okay going to the bar with our friends. The fact that we usually end up drunk at the end of the night should alert us to the fact that we are not okay, and should make a different choice. What about the temptation to only look at porn that one time? “I can handle it.” How many people have been sucked into that addiction? To think that we are somehow stronger than everyone else is a lie straight out of the pit of hell. Again, we need to Identify it, Reject it, Turn around and leave it behind. This one comes with a caveat…and get help if you need it. Some battles cannot be fought alone. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide the way out so you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians, 10:13

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Temptation – it is as old as the Garden of Eden. We are confronted by it daily; sometimes in small ways, sometimes in life altering ways. It doesn’t come to us wrapped in an ugly bow, looking like something we don’t want to touch. It usually comes to us looking beautiful, attractive and inviting. We are usually lured by the look of it or the sound of it. I don’t know how many times people have tried to talk me into things and made them sound tremendously appealing.

“Just once,” is a phrase that comes up when facing temptation. Others or ourselves will say, “Just try it once, it can’t hurt anything.” But is that really true? The doctors’ offices are full of young people who wanted to try having sex “just once” because everyone else was doing it. Some of them end up becoming pregnant by a person they would never want to marry or father their child and they must face a life altering decision then and there. Others have gotten an STD which may or may not be with them the rest of their lives…all because they wanted to have sex “just once” with someone they met at a bar or a party.

I remember listening to a formerly successful real estate broker. She was invited to a party where they were doing cocaine. It wasn’t the first time she had been at a party where there was cocaine, but people began telling her how great she would feel if she used it. “She could work longer hours and it would give her more energy,” they said. So, she tried it “just once.” She was not immediately hooked on it but she changed her social schedule around and only began attending parties where cocaine was available. She continued to use it and eventually she was hooked on it. After she spent all of her cash, sold everything she owned and ultimately sold herself to get the drug, did she hit rock bottom and seek help. Now she talks about the danger of trying that addicting drug “just once.”

Marriage counselors’ offices are flooded with people who wanted to watch pornography “just once.” Whether men or women, after they saw the first film, they became hooked. They couldn’t get the images out of their minds and it drew them back more and more until it became more of a draw to them then their own mates. And many times, their marriages became shipwrecked on the shores of this alluring temptation.

Most of us know people who have been in these situations. We might even have been in these situations. All because of giving into a life altering temptation “just once.” Ravi Zacharias said it best, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

Temptation – it’s all around us. What can we do when we are faced with it? The Scripture gives us wise advice: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13

In other words: First, don’t think you are immune to it. We all can fall into temptation. Second, temptations are common, not unique, to each and every one of us. Third, God has promised that He will provide a way of escape from each and every temptation we have to deal with. We just have to ask Him for help when we are faced with temptation and it is available. We must look for the way of escape that He provides and then take it. We must run as if our lives depend on it, for they may well.

Temptation – let’s not be deceived into thinking it will be okay if we try it “just once.” That’s a lie straight from the pit of Hell.