Temptation

Have you ever been tempted to do wrong? Silly question, huh? Who isn’t tempted? We wouldn’t be human if we weren’t tempted from time to time. (Remember Adam and Eve? They had perfect partners, perfect surroundings, no sinful influences, and a perfect relationship with God. What happened? They were tempted. They sinned. It’s the most awful thing about being human!)

What is sin? The Bible gives us a definition: Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

Who’s a sinner? The Bible answers that question as well: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).

I don’t think anyone can exclude himself from being guilty of one point of the law. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. Do you know anyone who never told even one lie? Do you know anyone who never coveted (wanted something that wasn’t his)? Do you know anyone who never, ever stole—even a penny (or cent, centavo, centime, or whatever it is in your country)? One point. That’s all it takes. The Bible doesn’t let us escape guilt. It tells it like it is: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

When someone accepts Christ as his personal Savior, he has a new nature. The Bible describes it as everything becoming new.

So, why do we still sin?

It’s because we’re tempted.

The good news?

There’s a way to resist the temptation with God’s help. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God actually helps us by giving us armor. There’s a helmet, a sword, a shield, and more. Read Ephesians 6 where it tells us Christians to: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). James tells us to Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

I saved the best until last. The best help we have is really understanding and knowing the Lord and our position in Him. When Jesus was on earth as a man, He was tempted in every way we are—every way!!! And, He didn’t sin! We are in Him, if we are saved. He has given us the power—through Him, through His strength—to resist temptation, just like He did!

Let’s read: For we have not an high priest (Jesus) which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Here’s another passage: For in that he himself (Jesus) hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (help) them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:18)

As I meditate on these verses, I am blessed by the knowledge that Jesus went through it all first, and He didn’t sin. He understands! He felt what it was like to be tempted, yet He didn’t sin. So, Who better to help us with our own temptations and sin problem? Who better to help us with our own flesh? He Who became flesh for us!

Hebrews 4:16 (above) tells us that, in our temptations, we can boldly pray so that we’ll have access to Jesus’ mercy and grace to help us overcome temptation.

How wonderful!