Sometimes, I’ll admit it, these bible studies are written
for my own benefit.
If you’re a damnable sinner like me, you’ll be able to admit
that you struggle with temptation.
A lot.
You’ll also admit to a feeling of disgust when you think about
everything that tempts you in a day.
But, why?
Here’s a secret for you…
…
…
…
Temptation isn’t bad.
Being tempted isn’t a sin, it’s a reminder that there’s sin
in the world.
When temptation hits, it’s our reminder of mortality, and of
our need to evaluate what is really important in our lives.
When I was in school, I hated tests. Not because I wasn’t
smart, I was (notice the word was!) but it was because I hated memorization.
Wasn’t good at it, and I’m still not!
But tests in school were tolerable because you could prepare
for them. You could take the time to study and review all the information that
you were supposed to know and go from there.
The tests that we face in life aren’t nearly so simple.
There’s no prep time, and usually you’re forced to make a
decision in a split second. These tests are a lot harder and the results mean a
heck of a lot more.
What I really want to draw your attention to is verses 5- 6:
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.John 6:5-6
Jesus takes this opportunity to test Philip, to make him
think about what he trusted; the ways of the world or the ways of God?
We’re constantly being tempted by this same predicament and
left to question whether we put out hope in the promises of mankind, or in the
promises of Christ.
James
1:2-4 expounds further upon this idea of testing.
How weird is it to think of being tested as a blessing? To
consider that the temptations we are currently living through could possibly benefit
us in some manner?
But think about your decision making process. You have that
choice to make, you put a lot of time and energy into the decision and it ends
up blowing up in your face. What happens next? You either forget everything
that happened, or, more likely, you remember and learn from your mistakes. This
is the same thing that temptation does for our faith. When we’re tempted, we
can make a decision to do what we know is right, or what we know is wrong. In
either situation we are learning. Even in those times that we feel terrible
about the decision that we’ve made, we are being strengthened and reminded of
what our faith actually looks like, where it is wanting, and what we need to
do.
When we look further into this chapter, it becomes more and
more evident how much temptation can grow when left untended. Earlier we
discussed how it can make you grow when realized and built upon, but unfortunately
the opposite holds true as well.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.James 1:12-15
It’s very easy for temptation to grow into full blown sin.
It’s very easy for said temptation to take over one’s life. This sin can grow
and grow until it’s all encompassing and it becomes all that you can think
about. You’ve gone past the point of even caring if what you’re doing is right
or wrong.
The worst part is, there’s nothing you can do about it.
We all fall prey to the siren’s call of temptation. We all
neglect what we know is right and move to doing what is more fun and produces
the more favourable, immediate result.
So, what do we do?
Rather, what should we do?
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.1 Peter 5:8-10
You heed the words of Christ. You depend fully on the
actions that have made you a redeemed child in God’s sight. Will there be times
of temptation? Of course there will! Will you succumb to those temptations?
More likely than not, yes! Will you be forgiven? Yes!
Christ has promised that he will be there to strengthen you.
Jesus gave his life on the cross, in order that yours and mine would be saved.
He did this all the while realizing that there was no way we could resist all
these temptations on our own, but also while giving us an example which we
could follow whenever we were tempted.
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