“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin.” James 1:14
Dear Ones:
Why is temptation, as mentioned in the Bible, a necessary subject to study? The answer lies not only in the context in which we live, a fallen world, and the existence, and presence of the tempter, Satan, but primarily in the revealed purpose of man on this earth, to KNOW God, and have communion with Him. We know from Scripture that God is holy, and that sin separates us from God. We also know that unconfessed sin can result in disruption of this fellowship, or communion with God. Satan knows this. And so, the enemy of God and of our souls, seeks to tempt us in order to persuade us to cross a line. That line is the objective, revealed will of God, as declared clearly in His word. The enemy knows that if we choose to cross that line, we sin. It is then that the Holy Spirit’s blessing stops, for He will never bless conscious sin. The story of Samson is a good illustration of this. After treating lightly his consecration vow, and crossing the line, he awoke one morning thinking that he would go out as usual and deal with his enemies, as his strength was so very much superior than theirs. However, he did not know that “…the Lord had departed from him.” (Judges 16:20) It must be underlined here that the Lord’s departure from Samson was not a permanent one. Samson’s devotion to God was marred by the rejection of God’s reign in his life. However, in Samson’s case, “…the hair of his head began to grow,” which was the symbol of his devotion to God. Samson, at great cost and suffering, came back to that place in his heart where he could again pray, and the Lord would hear him. God would answer his prayer and turn his great loss into a great victory.
In the book of Genesis, before Cain had killed his brother Abel, the Lord addressed Cain’s jealousy of his brother, with regard to the offering that God accepted from Abel’s hands, but not from the hands of Cain. The Lord saw Cain’s fallen countenance, and then spoke to him of sin being like a lion. “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not well, SIN IS LYING AT THE DOOR. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.” (Gen. 3:7) God gave to Cain a very clear warning, and opportunity, to turn away from his jealousy, and his jealous thoughts towards Abel. However, he did not respond to the Lord’s word. The result was that he killed his brother. The lingering jealousy in his heart, accompanied certainly by the voice of the tempter, brought him to the point of sinning against God, and Abel. Cain chose to defy God, cross the line, or limit of his devotion to God, and murder his brother.
Temptation is not sin. Nor is God the author of temptation, as He tempts no one. However, temptation is rather that appeal by the enemy of God to create some desire, need, or thought in the sinful nature and mind of man, to reject the objective word of God, disobey it, rejecting God in doing so. The objective of temptation is always to deceive the individual to not trust God according to His word. The rejection of true faith is to embrace and commit sin, depriving the individual of communion with God.
Paul, wrote to the Corinthians on the subject of temptation: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor.10:13) There are places and situations that God gives us wisdom to avoid. But there is also the Spirit of God who gives discernment to recognize that which is not of God, giving also the strength to turn away from it.
Dear Father, Give us grace to love and abide by your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad