It Is Tempting – But You Must Resist!

Oh, how we love to bash Eve for succumbing to temptation – but don’t we all struggle with that one? Satan does not tempt us in generalities. He is far too clever for that. He likes to pick out something specific to hone in on. Take discontentment, for example. He will tell you that you deserve so much more, or maybe something better, and of course, that one particular thing you don’t have. He just aimed his poison dart at your “pride” and you fell for it.
The enemy of our soul delights in focusing his deception on our desires or needs that haven’t been met. He picks the time and place of our temptation and sends us an “engraved invitation”, hoping we’ll reply quickly. He knows when we’re tired, hungry, upset, depressed, lonely or sick we’ll be more venerable to his deceit. He patiently waits for us to let down our guard. God’s Word tells us to “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Satan loves to create doubt regarding God’s love for us. He did the same with Eve. This is what he told her, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every three of the garden’?” He simply twisted the truth and got her to question God’s goodness and character. We must be careful to not fall for the same trick. God may have given you a personal promise or verse to cling to. You may be waiting for God to do something special in your family, or marriage, or with your children. Don’t let the father of lies trick you into believing his falsehood. He wants to destroy your trust in God and your confidence in Who He is.

We know from I John 2:16, “that all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Satan is the ruler of this age and our present world, and has been influencing the practice of sin since the beginning, starting with Eve. We must watch for signs of discontent and jealousy as we evaluate our circumstances. We must focus on God’s sovereignty and His wisdom. We cannot lean to our own understanding in matters pertaining to “the fairness of life”. We must believe God and His Word, and leave the results in His hands.

You may come to a point in your marriage when you were sure you heard from God about something, and then you didn’t see any evidence of God working it out. You can be tempted to take matters into your own hands, at your own peril of course. We must surrender our desires and plans to be denied, changed, or granted as God sees fit. If through a broken heart He can bring His purposes to pass, then thank Him for breaking your heart.

I was tempted to contemplate divorce not long after my conversion to Christ, but God plainly spoke to my spirit, in that for me, that was not an option. I Corinthians 7:14, 16 says, “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy… For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”

Temptation is around every turn, and in every decision. You must stay strong and focused on
Jesus. Use His Word to diffuse them all - Jesus said, “It is written…” So be it!