Kick Him to the Curb!
Have you ever been tempted? Sure you have. We all have. It could be that urge, that inclination, to do or say something. That urge which causes us to be strongly inclined. All the food tasted so good that you were tempted to go back for seconds. After trying and trying to learn how to play the piano, and trying some more, but with no success, you were tempted to call it quits. Or how about to try something foolishly – like tempting fate. Being tempted might also mean to attract or allure – she was tempted out of retirement after talking to her boss. None of those examples is inherently bad, but temptation can also be our desire to act disobediently. Cheating on our tax return. Calling in sick to work while we drive to the beach. Sneaking in after curfew. Underage drinking. Premarital or extramarital sex.
No matter the context, the temptation of disobedience is really nothing more than an enticement to do wrong with some promise of pleasure or gain. God established protective guardrails in all of life because He knows the dangers of disobedience. The world claims that satisfaction can be found in status, wealth, friends, career, social media influence, ladies who are 36-24-36 or men who look like Adonis. Satan uses the worldly enticements we face every day to turn our affection from God to him and his schemes. He does that through temptation. He makes our rebellion against God, which is the root of all sin look, smell, feel, taste, and sound very attractive.
This rebellion started long ago. It first occurred in what can be said is the most beautiful garden ever known to mankind – the Garden of Eden. God gave the first man permission to enjoy every tree in the garden, except one. Here is what we read – “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17).
But, sadly, we know that that first man and woman stepped outside God’s command and after being tempted by the serpent, ate the forbidden fruit, thus separating them (death) from God (Genesis 3). Because of that fall from grace, we too are born into sin, subject to God’s judgement to death and captive to Satan’s kingdom of darkness. Thus, our need for Jesus Christ as our Messiah and Savior. I have written extensively on that subject. His atoning death on the cross took on our sin, reconciled us to God, and disarmed the demonic powers.
How does Satan tempt us today? Using the same three-pronged strategy he used in the garden. First, he puts doubt in our heads: “Did God actually say?” (Genesis 3:1). He then deceives us by contradicting what God says: “You will surely not die.” (3:4). Oh, that sly serpent, he’s not done. He goes on to romance us: “You will be like God.” (3:5).
So, are we doomed for perpetual sin? Without God’s help, yes. But if we commit our lives to
Jesus and immerse ourselves in Scripture, we will begin to get the power to kick Satan to the curb, and look temptation straight in the eye, and say, “You’re outta here!” And in doing so, we have the power to escape temptation. Let me offer this verse – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). And thankfully, when we fail (notice I did not say if we fail), God is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess them to him (1 John 1:9).
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