Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 KJV
The context of today's extract is based on the teachings about temptation, starting with verse 12 of the same passage, and which seems to be a non negotiable part of my growing. Being tempted has nothing to do with first being a Christian, because all men will be tempted, but overcoming temptation has all to do with who is backing you up.
A crown of life is promised to all who endure to the end. Whatever is it I think I enjoy now, it is nothing compared with the life I have been promised. Whether it is a physical or spiritual crown, it is the crowning glory of a life better and bigger than whatever life I think I have now.
It is in that understanding I must deal with the verses that follow, including today's extract. God does not tempt with evil. He does not hold juicy evil over us, daring us to make a choice and threatening to punish us if we choose evil. Sin makes it harder to appreciate just how good God is, because our natural propensity is towards evil.
However, it is important to note that whilst his love is awesome, his judgment of sin is also final. He wants me to choose Him, but He will not compel me. He will do all that is required to enable me have all the facts and help I need, but the final decision on choice is mine to make, and mine to live with.
Temptation is first about my carnal desires, flowing from a heart that is not surrendered to the Spirit of God. It is a daily surrender, which is the only way lust will not conceive and give birth to sin. This is what the Bible refers to as 'dying daily'.is what you feed that grows, just like lust needs input to enable it conceive. Temptation is not a one-off, but a process of constant unguarded exposures. If I do not guard my heart, it will be exposed to lusts. There is no vacuum; it is as simple as that. Death is the end of a life that is unguarded. The fact that the devil cannot overcome a heart that is totally surrendered to God doesn't mean he will not try.
I must therefore not be deceived: nothing evil proceeds from God, and I cannot hang the foundations of evil desires on God. Man's fall in the Garden of Eden allows the devil have free reign over all who are under his control, but for all who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, there is a help available which the devil cannot replicate or repeal.
Everything God does is deemed good and perfect, free from evil. He is called a Father, because He relates with His children as such. There is no Father I know, at least, properly so called, who will deliberately place obstacles and difficulties in the path of his own children, and then rejoice when they fail and fall. But by being placed on earth, in this earthly body, we are susceptible to evil, and must be careful about the choices that we make.
The only safe place is IN the Father of lights, who is so called because He is both the Creator and the Essence of light. He created the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night, but He is not subject to the changing seasons that these lights rule. He is the Creator of them all, but He is not subject to their rule. There are no variable factors when you deal with God, because whatever He called sin in the days of Adam is still sin in our own days today, irrespective of changes in culture, tradition or enlightenment.
He is the Father of lights because there is no darkness at all IN Him. No one can walk with Him and still walk in darkness. His will and purpose are made clear in His Word, and all who will live lives that please God must align their lives with the Word of God. All other imperfect lights would cast shadows, because no matter how bright the light is, it cannot capture the whole earth. Because the Father is the Essence of Light, He can cast no shadow.
He does not turn to man; it is man that must turn to Him. His principles are not subject to man's pleasure, but man must be careful to align with His principles. You don't find inconsistencies with Him. He is the One who does not change, no matter the pressure or the pleasures of any generation. Shouldn't that fill you with both hope and dread: hope in the confidence that as long as I depend on God to the end, I get all that is promised.
And of course, dread that if I fail to depend on God to the end, I stand in fearful expectation of judgement, and be condemned to hell forever. Where do you stand? What is the foundation of your expectation? Who is the guiding 'light' for all you are and do? Remember, eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here.
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