Temptation is something that we all face during this lifetime. We have all experienced the temptation to do something that we know is wrong, to sin. There have been times when we said no, and walked away from the temptation, but sadly, there have been the times as well when we have fallen into sin.
Let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about temptation, and how we can gain victory over it in our lives.
We first find reference to this subject in the third chapter of Genesis,
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' "
The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit, and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-6 NASB)
Notice how the serpent enticed Eve. He placed doubt into her mind, twisting the very words of God. He caused her to question what God had commanded, even the extent of the command. He caused her to question the consequences of disobedience to the command of God by telling her that she would not die, and instead she will be like God, knowing good from evil. Her passion was aroused as she looked at the fruit, and she ate, thus sinning against God.
James tells us that the power of temptation lies in the arousal of our passions. We read,
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:14-15 NASB)
We all have desires, we all see things that we would like to have, or like to do. The problem is that these things are not always right. Sometimes, a thought enters our minds, a desire to do something that is wrong. What we now do with this desire determines if we live or die spiritually. When we continue to gaze upon the forbidden fruit, That is, to think upon our desire, to let it grow within our hearts, we will find that object more and more attractive, and we will also find ourselves more and more willing to commit the evil act. Our conscience will become quiet within us, or rather, we will drown it out, as we seek to justify our action, much like Eve, as she listened to what the serpent had to say. We sin when we give in to the gratification of our desires. This is something that we have all experienced, and far too many of us still experience the bitter reality of failure in our Christian lives as well.
We often find consolation in telling ourselves that we are too weak, the temptation is too strong, and we just cannot help ourselves. Some of us may fancy that our situation is unique to us, and no one else can understand the temptations that we face. Again, the Word of God speaks to this as well,
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13 NASB)
This verse tells us that our temptations are not unique to us, that others face the same things that we do, and that God Himself knows our limits, and will not allow the temptation to be more that we can endure. He is faithful to provide the way of escape. We have no excuse, we can say no to sin! This is a solemn verse in that it strips away our feeble excuses and our poor attempts at justifying our actions. We should at the same time be encouraged, that we can face temptation and gain victory over the sins that so easily beset us (Heb 12:1).
Jesus faced temptation in the same way that we do. (Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-13). We read that even though He was tempted Just as we are, yet He did not sin (Heb 4:15). Satan tried to reach Jesus through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. He twisted scripture, but Jesus recognized this. How important it is for us to know and understand the Word of God as well. It is a powerful weapon to use when we are assailed by the enemy of our souls as well, but it does us no good if we do not know the scriptures inside out, and hide them within our hearts, like we would hide a valuable treasure (Psalm 119:11).
We find hope and consolation in the fact that because He was tempted, Jesus, as our great high priest, can sympathize with our weaknesses. We read,
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4: 14-16 NASB)
Far too often we will approach the throne of grace for pardon after we have fallen. While it is true that we have an advocate with God the Father in the person of Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1), and we can and should go to Him with the guilt of our sin, how much more should we go to Him for the wisdom and grace we need to escape temptation before we sin? Jesus was tempted in the things that He suffered. He is able to come to our aid (Heb 2:18). As we have seen, through Christ, we can be over comers. We do not need to fall, in fact, we have everything needful to not fall!
Diligence is a word that somehow seems to be forgotten. It is seldom mentioned from the pulpit, overlooked by the best selling "Christian" authors of the day, and has been replaced with a more passive type of "faith" by modern Bible teachers. It is far more comfortable to be passive, easier to just sit back and "trust" Jesus. After all, the work of the cross is a finished work.
It is true that the work of Christ is a finished work in the sense that there is nothing we can do or add to it, it is equally true that we must actively participate in our salvation. As Paul states in Philippians 2:12, we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Faith is an active faith, and salvation in its true sense is a life to be lived out in the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal 2:20, Romans 8:13-14).
Diligence means to give wholehearted effort to something. A diligent person is one who takes great care, goes to great length, and perseveres against all odds, to accomplish a purpose. They accomplish what they set out to do, because it is of utmost importance to them.
Contrary to those who claim that this amounts to mere works done in a legalistic spirit, the Bible sets forth plainly that we are to be diligent in our Christianity. There are two passages in 2 Peter that we will look at.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or shortsighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Peter 1:2-11 NASB)
This is working out our salvation with fear and trembling! We are not working for our salvation as if it were something we could earn or accomplish on our own, but working out what God is working in our lives (Phil 2:12-13). We have God given faith, we have God's promises to us as found in His word, and we are made partakers of His divine nature. We now must yield to Him, submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in obedience to His word. We, like Paul the Apostle, are to press on to maturity (Phil 3:7-17). The Christian life is a life of continual growth. It is impossible to remain stationary, and yet be alive as a Christian. We must be diligent in this or we risk drifting away from the hope of our salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3). This passages ends with the exhortation to make our calling and election sure. Again, this is not self effort, not a call to salvation by works, but an admonition to persevere in our life in Christ. If we are not following Jesus, if we are not walking in the Spirit, we are falling away from Christ, and risk our very souls. Salvation is a radical transformation of heart and life. It must be lived out in our daily lives if it is real.
The Apostle peter, in speaking of the return of Christ and the end of the age, has this to say,
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless. (2 Peter 3:13-14 NASB)
Those who are longing for the return of Christ are to be diligent in their conduct today! John admonishes us to abide in Him so that we will not be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28-29). This involves living righteously. Again he writes that those who are looking for the appearance of Christ will purify themselves just as Christ is pure. Once again, this is speaking of the purity of our heart and actions (1 John 3:3-6). We are told that no one who abides in Him sins, as He has come to take away sins. We must be ever so diligent in our daily lives, each and every moment, that we are not led away from Christ through complacency or allowing sin in our lives. This takes effort, diligence.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NASB)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5 KJV
Whole hearted trust
What does it mean to trust in God with the whole heart? It is one thing to believe the promises we read in the word, but quite another thing to fall upon Him with an active faith when called to do so by the circumstances of life. It is easy to identify with Peter, sinking, as the wind driven waves crashed around him (Matt 14:28-31).
James tells us that if we lack wisdom, God is more than willing to give it to us, if we will only ask. However, we must ask in faith,
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:6-8 KJV
Peter was able to walk on the water, at Jesus command, as he kept his eye on Christ. When he looked at the storm around him, Jesus grew dim, and he lost his faith. Likewise, we are tossed about like waves of the sea, if we are double minded. A double minded man is a man who is not committed. This kind of person has no settled convictions or principles. He might have a half hearted commitment to Christ, but in reality, he is on the fence. It is impossible to have a living vibrant faith in Christ, if we are not surrendered to Him. This is why we see so many individuals falling apart today. They cannot trust Christ, if they do not really know Him. They are tossed about in all areas of life. Their opinions waver as the tossing sea. As the storms of life buffet them, they find it impossible to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), and to look at what is unseen, rather than what is seen (2 Cor 4:18).
We are exhorted to come boldly to the throne of grace for help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16), and to draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22). This is trusting God with all of your heart. It is to be confident in Him; that He is good; that He is dependable; that He can be taken at His word; that He desires our highest good.
To trust Him with all the heart implies that we mean business with God; that we are serious in our pursuit of Him. Diligence is a forgotten word nowadays, but it is something that God desires us to be. We are to be diligent, making every effort, in our knowledge of Him. This includes our trust in Him as well. Proverbs 2:1-5, gives us a good idea of what it means to seek wisdom with diligence. It involves a conscience effort to hear; to apply the heart to understanding, to cry after knowledge, to lift up the voice after understanding. a diligent effort is compared to one seeking after silver and other treasures. This is what it means to trust in the Lord with all of the heart.
Our faulty understanding
We must forsake our own understanding, if we would truly desire to know the way of God. Take a look at Abram and Sarai (Genesis 15:1-6, 16:1-4). God had promised Abram that he would have an heir. In the natural this would seem impossible, as both Abram and his wife Sarai were past child bearing age. After a long while, Sarai, decides to take matters into her own hands, and gives her maid Haggar, to Abram as a wife. They leaned unto their own understanding, and tried to bring about the promise of God, through their own efforts. This resulted in disaster, as so often happens when we decide to do things in our own way, instead of waiting on God. I admit, it can be difficult to trust God, when things do not seem as they should be. We often face impossible situations, and feel that the odds are insurmountable, but does not Jesus tell us that if we have faith, we can move mountains (Mark 11:22-24)? When we have a promise from God, we need to cling to that by faith, and forsake our own natural reasoning, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
Acknowlege Him in everything
We often want to trust God with some things, but not everything. However, we are to acknowledge God in all of our ways. Every decision we make, every obstacle we face, every plan and purpose that we have, should be placed in God's hands, if we would want to walk in His will. James tells us that it is presumption to make plans without considering God (James 4:13-15). We often take things for granted, but we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Once again, this is often where our own understanding of things gets in the way. It is not a matter of God's plans that we will follow, and then our own plans that we will also pursue, but God is all. Too many people are guilty of merely adding Jesus to their already full lives. He says make Me all! This is what self denial is about. It is losing our lives for His sake (Mark 8:34-35).
If we do this, trust Him with all of our heart, forsake dependence on our own understanding of things, and consider Him in every area of our lives, God promises to direct our steps. His wisdom will flood our hearts and minds, and we will find ourselves walking in His perfect will for our lives!
