A word about temptation

Published 8:00 am Saturday, December 9, 2017

Temptation is defined as, “something having strong appeal, enticing.” It is a word with which we are all familiar. It is the root of sin and the destroyer of peace in human hearts. Temptation may appear harmless and benign to us in the beginning. It may even have us to believe we can avoid the consequences of indulgence — and we may for a season. Temptation never shows an individual its finished work — broken homes, destroyed health, prison and death.

We see the results in people who succumbed to temptation throughout the Bible. From the very beginning Adam and Eve could not resist the forbidden fruit and the consequences were devastating. King David groaned under the guilt of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Samson, too, was tantalized by the flame of his passions for Delilah and broke his promise to God. In the New Testament, hearts were broken because of weakness in temptations hour. I can hear the agony in the prodigal son’s voice upon his return to the Father, “I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” (Luke 15:21)

Since temptation is a universal problem and the daily companion of us all, we need to heed the Bible’s warning and its advice for overcoming this destroyer of mankind. It is of some comfort to know that Jesus himself was tempted therefore He understands the struggles we face. For those for whom physical appetites are their daily companions, Jesus’ encounter with hunger reminds us we can have victory over the flesh. Moreover, Jesus fought off the temptation to seek power and popularity through compromising conviction. He would not allow a desire for material things to cause Him to bow down to the god of the world.

There is an inner struggle within our hearts to give in to temptation. Paul explained this problem with his confession, “for the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Rom. 7:19) His despair over his temptation found hope in his cry of victory that he could overcome his temptations through Jesus Christ. He made this abundantly clear in his letter to the Corinthians.

“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 of escape, that ye may be able to bear it. “ (Cor. 10:13)

We have help! The presence and power of the Holy Spirit is our ally. The Bible is a source for neutralizing the acid of temptation. With God’s help we can win the battle over temptation if we really want to do so. It is an hour-by-hour struggle, but our resource will never fail if we avail ourselves of His help.