TACKLING TEMPTATION (Part II)

 Tackling temptation (Part II)

 Whenever you are strongly tempted, focus mindfully on the circumstances.  Learn from them.  In the future, you will want to avoid similar situations.  Remember: Satan has maintained an active portfolio on you since birth, so he is keenly aware of the various things/situations/people that float your boat, so to speak.  He will never present temptation venues that are not potentially attractive to you.  For example, since drugs have never carried any personal allure for me, it is highly unlikely that Satan will extend temptation invitations that are related to the drug culture.  Instead, he will knock on my life-door with that which is extremely appealing to me. 

 Before we go farther, I must appeal to your sense of compassion.  It’s difficult for us to wrap our heads around the reasons why someone would succumb easily to temptations that would never appeal to us.  You have your personalized set of temptations.  So show compassion to others.  I like the way F. B. Meyer frames it. “Whenever we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.  And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.  We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances.”  To wit, the model for a Christ-like attitude regarding the flaws of others is a simple cliché: There go I…but for the grace of God.

 Let’s examine the strategy and ‘end-game’ of temptation, and any of its resultant sins.  First of all, “the pleasures of sin” are only “for a season,” therefore, its seeming joy is utterly deceptive.  (Hebrews 11:25)  Just ask anyone who has fallen prey to the snare of adulterous relationships.  Certainly, it feels good (perhaps even feels right) for a quick moment, but the aftermath is a horrific cesspool of anger, hurt, guilt, confusion and condemnation.  John Piper wrote, “Sin gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it.  The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”  Trust me on this one: IT NEVER DOES!  It only produces a momentary sense of carnal happiness, but absolutely fails to produce any lasting peace and joy.

 Prayerfully consider the following questions and advice by Charles Spurgeon:  “What settings are you in when you fall?  Avoid them.  What props do you have that support your sin?  Eliminate them.  What people are you usually with?  Avoid them.  There are two equally damning lies Satan wants us to believe: (1) Just once won't hurt.  (2) Now that you have ruined your life, you are beyond God's use, and might as well enjoy sinning.”  It’s a wise perspective, Pastor Spurgeon – very wise indeed.

 Satan knows that he is doomed, damned and consigned eternally to hell.  So he craves vengeance on God and seeks company for his misery.  Satan targets humankind (whom he seeks to influence) because we are the highest creations of Almighty God, whom he hates and could not possibly defeat.  So don’t become Satan’s patsy! 

 There’s a scene in John Bunyan’s classic book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” that aptly describes the agenda of Satan and the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  It portrays one person who is called “Interpreter” bringing “Christian” to a wall where fire is blazing from an open grate.  One man is trying desperately to douse the fire with water.  Then, Interpreter shows Christian the other side of the wall, where another man is secretly pouring oil on the fire to keep it ablaze.  Interpreter says, “You saw the man standing behind the wall to maintain the fire, teaching you that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.”  Never forget: Satan strives vigorously to quench our faith, but Christ is on the other side (always), and He faithfully deposits the oil of His Spirit and the WISDOM of His Word in order to keep it alive.

 Believer, you can and will overcome!  “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)  

 Check out some of the wondrous joys that await us…

 To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)

 He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)

 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. (Revelation 2:17)

 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. (Revelation 2:26)

 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

 He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. (Revelation 3:12)

 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)

 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Revelation 21:7)

 Winner-Believer, our GOD has fully endowed you and miraculously empowered you to tackle any and every temptation.  You are an overcomer!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!