Temptation is a reminder that We are at War and to walk in purpose.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
As Christians, we are not at war primarily for our own souls. Our souls have been purchased, redeemed and restored by the finished work of Christ on the cross. No. We are at war for the souls of all those around us who don’t know God, who have not surrendered their lives over to Jesus and thus live in Spiritual darkness.
The stakes are high and eternity is on the line. Jesus takes the battle with sin very seriously when he says “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, for it is better to lose one of your members than to lose your whole body in hell!” Sometimes, in the absence of temptation, I forget about the slavery that so many people are walking in and I become complacent in the knowledge and confidence that the Lord delivered me and I forget why he delivered me in the first place, that I may become his instrument of deliverance for others. There is a war going on and its not over. Just because the Lord brought deliverance to me does not mean that He is done bringing deliverance. When I am tempted, I am reminded to fight for those around me.
Oftentimes we make avoiding temptation the goal. If we could just avoid these sinful behaviors. If only I stopped watching porn, If I only I stopped drinking and partying, or sleeping around, (or whatever your vice is), then I would be living an abundant life. However, Jesus is clear that He alone is the source of an abundant life and He tells us to Seek the kingdom first and His righteousness and that all these things would be added. The goal is not avoiding sin. The goal is pursuing Christ.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32
Jesus warns Simon Peter of a time where Satan will seek to have him, but he prays that his strength would not fail. Of course, Jesus was talking about the point later on that night when Peter would deny him 3 times. Jesus knew that Peter at some point would give in to temptation and sin against him, but he prayed that his faith would not fail. Instead, he tells him “When he turns back, to strengthen his brothers.”This is such an instructive example of not only how to turn temptation into victory, but even the points where we fail can be used by God to strengthen others. Temptation is an opportunity to strengthen others.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man…”
God showed me how the times of deepest temptation are also oftentimes the best opportunities to strengthen others. There is no temptation that you are currently battling that someone else around you is not also battling. Everything You struggle with in this life is meant as an opportunity to bring freedom and deliverance to someone else. There are people around me who need to be strengthened. The Lord has specifically gifted you with your specific life experiences and temptations to strengthen those around you who share the same experiences and temptations.
Temptations serve to strengthen our faith.
I love Jesus’ prayer that Peter’s faith would not fail. He could have prayed that Peter would not fail and surely God would’ve answered His prayer. Instead he prayed that his FAITH would not fail even though He, inevitably would. James tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials and temptations of various kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Temptation tests faith and when faith is tested it is strengthened, even when we fail. The Christian faith has never been rooted in performance. Succeed or fail, sin or live righteously, the Lord’s love for us has never been rooted in any of our abilities or accomplishments, but rather on the finished work of Christ through His perfect life, death, and resurrection. It is always grace, grace and more grace. He showers those who are His with unending favor.
Temptation reminds me that I am weak and require God’s grace.
I required it to be saved and I will require it to live according to what He wants. I am a broken vessel in need of so much repair, but Christ chose me anyways, in order to show what only He can do with a broken vessel such as myself. His power is made perfect in my weakness.
Temptation serves to remind me of a greater Beauty.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
I have come to realize that God is a lot like the infinite expanse of stars in the universe. The things in this world and our own desires are like a vast array of neon white street lights. The things we are enticed by and drawn to that aren’t God work just like a bright street light would to dim the wondrous glory of the stars in heaven. If you have ever gone out to some point in the middle of nowhere, in the absence of light pollution and truly seen the stars, unobstructed by the noise of this world, you would know it is absolutely breathtaking. That is what being in the presence of Our Lord Jesus is like. That is the privilege we get as followers of Christ that we get to approach His throne with confidence and we get to have our breath taken away. But sin, the impurity in my heart, often obstructs my view, so that I don’t see God clearly and if I don’t see him clearly, I don’t see myself or others clearly and I miss out on the breathtaking beauty of my God.
The Lord has really been using my experience with temptation to show me that He uses Everything, including my temptation to conform me to look more like Jesus everyday. There is no wasted experience, no wasted suffering, nor wasted failure. I serve a God of redemption who turns what the enemy means for evil for my good. God is good and worthy of all of our worship and obedience. He is breathtaking and there is no temptation that can even compare to spending a moment in His presence. And He is beckoning you to seek Him first, through everything he allows in your life, including your temptation.
