The Trouble With Temptation

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." - Titus 2:11-14

There is a difference between being faced with temptation and succumbing to it and embracing those things by which we are tempted. So long as we live and breathe in this "earth suit" we will be faced with temptation to sin. I have not met a person who does not face the struggle. In fact the Word speaks directly to it. 

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Everyone is tempted. We are not all tempted by the same things but there is something or many things that tempts us to sin. God has provided a way to resist the temptation. To be clear, temptation is not sin. But sin is always preceded by temptation. Remember David and Bathsheba. 

"It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child." 2 Samuel 11:2-5

If we break this down. David was supposed to be with his men who had gone off to war, but he stayed behind. He was not where he was supposed to be. On his rooftop David saw a woman bathing and rather than turn away he looked at her, letting the temptation get stronger, and then called for her. He knew she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. He acted on the temptation and he had sex with her and she got pregnant. If you read further - David compounded his sin by trying to cover it up. First by bringing Uriah back from the war so he could have sex with his wife and then David could claim it was Uriah's child not his. Turned out that Uriah was a man of character and would not lay with his wife when the rest of his comrades were fighting in a war. So David had Uriah moved up to the most dangerous place in the battle and Uriah was killed.

Do you see how when we yield to temptation, sin takes root and then gives birth to more sin. Psalm 51 is about David's response when he is confronted by the Prophet Nathan recorded in 2 Samuel 12. David came under conviction and repented before the Lord.

In Psalm 51 David cried out to the Lord - "Create in me a clean heart oh Lord and renew a right Spirit in me. Do not cast me from your presence. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation." Living with unconfessed sin - with an unclean heart and hands stifles fellowship with God. Nathan told David a story and David said the man Nathan talked about should be punished. Nathan said, "You are the man!"

Don't think you are above temptation and the sin that follows.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." - James 1:13-15

Guard your heart! 

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:18-27

When you see that your next step will be on the path to sin, take another path.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess it - Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone