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Facing Temptation?
There is no sin
in being tempted. Everyone is. Even Jesus was (Hebrews 4:15).
John Wycliffe was of the opinion that "the holiest and highest in life
have the most temptations. How much higher the hill is, so much is the
wind there greater; so, how much higher the life is, so much the
stronger is the temptation of the enemy." He may well have been right.
The godly life is not the untested life, rather it is the life that has
been pushed to the breaking point by temptation, "yet without sin."
So, you are tempted. Like every man. "Every man is tempted, when
he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14). The
question is, "How are you going to deal with it?"
There are two lies Satan would like you to believe as a basis for
dealing with your temptations. The first he tells us when we're facing
temptation. It is, "Just once won't hurt." The second, after we've given
into temptation is "Now that you have ruined your life, you are beyond
God's use, and might as well enjoy sinning."
In reality, just once WILL HURT! It will hurt because the wages of
sin is death (Romans 3:23). It will likely hurt your conscience,
your influence and your sense of self worth. It will hurt because it
will weaken you and make you more susceptible to other temptations in
the future. As Ben Franklin said, "It is easier to suppress the first
desire than to satisfy all that follow it." The truth is that if we can
resist temptation to begin with, much "hurt" can be averted. Charles
Spurgeon used to tell his students, "Learn to say no. It will be of more
use to you than to be able to read Latin."
But if you do give in, don't give up! There is still hope for
living a righteous life. What is true in war is also true in our
struggle with Satan -- You may have to fight a battle more than once to
win it! Some of the greatest lives ever lived were lived by men who had
once committed grievous sins. King David's sins were so great that he
declares "my iniquities have gone over my head" (Psalm 38:4).
Peter once told Jesus, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O
Lord!" (Luke 5:8). Paul declared that "Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).
Are you facing temptation? We all are. Let us face it courageously,
with our heads up, swords drawn, eyes clear -- Responding to Satan's
challenge in the words of the prophet of old, "Do not rejoice over
me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise" (Micah 7:8).
--by Steve Klein
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