Ever been tempted? I’m not talking about the temptation to devour that extra piece of chocolate, or order the triple scoop of double chocolate fudge ice cream as opposed to the far inferior double scoop. While such actions may be damaging to one’s dietary plans, they likely don’t have eternal ramifications. No, the temptation I’m talking about leads us to defy God’s Word and results in sin.
Who of us has not been tempted? What man has not stared a bit too long at a pretty lady as she walks by? Who has not gazed upon the shiny new sports car our neighbor just purchased, and succumbed to envy, coveting the vehicle for ourselves? Who has not been tempted to tell a “little white lie” so as to avoid a confrontation or potential problem with a friend or spouse? The list of temptations is endless … and none of us are immune from being tempted to go astray and sin.
The Bible tells us that even Jesus was tempted. In reading Hebrews, the author confirms this in two separate places:
“Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2: 18
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are …” Hebrews 4: 15
When God became man, he took upon all of our traits and characteristics. This included not only our strengths, but our potential weaknesses as well. He could carouse with buddies, enjoy a good foot race, thrill over the taste of a good meal, laugh with friends at a funny joke … he could experience all of the joy this life has to offer. However, he could also endure all of the hardships and sadness this world can bring. He wept when his friend died, felt hunger and thirst, and felt the pain of harsh words and betrayal. Ultimately, He experienced the excruciating pain of torture, humiliation, and death.
Just like us, He also experienced the temptation to go astray, to sin. This temptation was real, and it was powerful. The Bible tells us several stories of his temptations; among these is the famous “desert” incident wherein the devil himself attempted to divert Jesus from His path. Jesus responded exactly how we should respond to such temptations: by shouting, “Away from me, Satan!”
The temptation to stray and to sin is so persistent that Jesus urged his disciples to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26: 41). Indeed, Jesus even begged His father in what we now call the Lord’s Prayer to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Yes, Jesus knew temptation, and struggled with it just like we do.
In the face of these constant and persistent temptations, Jesus ultimately never succumbed. He resisted every temptation, and never once fell into sin. To finish the quote from Hebrews Chapter 4: “ … but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.”
That’s a tall order for us. Indeed, it is an impossible order. We have all fallen victim to temptation, and we will all fall victim again in the future. We simply cannot live-up to Christ’s stellar record. But the good news is that God knows this, and as long as we sincerely repent and truly try to change our ways, He forgives us and still loves us.
Knowing that we are going to stumble and fall, yet still be forgiven, does this mean we should stop resisting temptation and instead yield to its lures? Heavens no! Paul fought this very concept almost 2000 years ago when he was roaming the world preaching the Gospel. Apparently there was a sect that believed the new freedom and covenant ushered-in by Christ gave believers free license to engage in all sorts of scandalous behavior. After all, as their thinking went, they were forgiven and saved regardless of their actions. Ultimately, this belief would morph into a form of Gnosticism, which proved to be a major distortion of Christ’s teachings. Paul was emphatic in his repudiation of these beliefs, and insisted that Christians had the obligation to live upright, moral lives. But he was clear that we could not accomplish this alone. Indeed, we had to rely on God’s mercy and grace to help us resist earthly temptations.
So, while we are forgiven and our salvation is promised, these facts to not relieve us of the obligation to follow Christ’s example to resist temptation and strive to lead Godly lives. We should constantly be striving to be more like Christ each and every day, and be in constant prayer with God, relying on Him to guide us and keep us on the right path. When we stumble, God is there to lift us back up so we can continue the journey … with Him by our side.
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1 comment:
Temptation. An interesting topic. So if I may play Devil's Advocate for a moment . . . (Couldn't resist that!)
Strictly in a debate mode and not doctrinal, at what point does temptation become the sin. How long do you have to look at that woman passing before you cross the line between God-inspired "sex appeal" and lustful thoughts? And in Jesus' temptations, was the mere suggestion by Satan the temptation or was it a distinct part of Jesus' reaction to actually consider the option but not actual buy the offer?
I agree with the "sin no more" attitude which does not allow a
"sin and I'll repent later" attitude toward living, but what it alls boils down to is that's what really happens for all of us who do not become brain dead at some point in our lives. As hard as we try, will we ever be successful? That denies reality to some extent. And it does not give license to "do what you want today because tomorrow you die" either. But it does beg the question--as Bob George, author of numerous books and articles on the differentiation between Law and Gospel--if you are saved, why should you want to sin with the right perspective? We will no matter what but self-flagellation after the fact doesn't make it any better. But a correct, sincere, active understanding of our relationship with God-- not a casual "knowledge of the Bible"-- but an active faith in its promises is the key to living.
It's an interesting rhetorical debate on the precise moment that temptation becomes sin and I'm interested in seeing what others think. If Jesus was tempted just like us in all ways, as the Bible says, at what point in a specific "temptation" do we depart from that into sin? Is the simple, immediate thought of that woman (or guy, ladies) walking down the street or is it the dwelling on the thought for how long? Or is it the attempts to consummate those thoughts that crosses the line into adultery? Or wanting a neat car like the neighbor, maybe buying one better than his to tweak him, is that the line?
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