Temptation

Temptation is a lie that is constantly given to us by the devil. It is a trap that he has prepared for us. It works like this: there is something good inside but as we enter it, it traps or kills us. Jesus teaches us about the devil and his temptation: “From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.” John 8:44

         The objective of temptation is to separate us from God. The devil will try to keep us from the truth until the very end, that is why Jesus calls him a “murder” in John 8:44.

           There is no hiding from temptation; everywhere where you go, the devil goes. There is no way to eliminate temptation, but what we can do is resist it: “Resist the devil and he will run away from you.” James 4:7

            The devil attacks us when we least expect it. He also attacks us when we are weak, like he attacked Jesus in the desert. Jesus was fasting for 40 days and just before the 40 days ended, the devil tempted Him. Jesus resisted the temptations and did not sin. We are also required to reject the devil’s temptations when being tempted.

            As written in 1 Corinthians 10:13, God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Every time we are tempted there is a way that we are given out of it. It is not God who tempts us, but the devil. God allows it as a test so that we may build from it and be complete.

            A very common temptation is doubt in God. Often we doubt God’s teachings and God’s love, leading us into rejecting Him. Doubt was the very first sin ever committed. The devil gave Eve doubt in God and she disobeyed God’s Word. This is where the very first sin originated. God’s word is what built the universe, it is the structure that holds everything in place:

Before the world was created, the Word already existed;
he was with God, and he was the same as God.
From the very beginning the Word was with God.
Through him God made all things;
not one thing in all creation was made without Him.
The Word was the source of life,
and this source brought light to mankind.”
John 1:1-5

It is clear now that through doubt Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s Word that is the foundations of life. If we reject the doubts that the devil gives us, we will have eternal life.

            We are left many weapons to fight temptation, including avoidance, God’s word, prayer and the Gospel. See Footsteps of Christ

            When we are tempted and we sin, we need to confess are sins so that Jesus can forgive us. For Jesus is the sacrifice made for all the sins of world and He forgives all sin. See Sins