Tempted 2?

Tempted 2?

But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14‭-‬15 NIV

Following on from the devotion of 2 days ago, where we established the fact that God does no evil, it was emphasized that God cannot be tempted by evil, neither does he tempt anyone. Where then does temptation come from, and what gives it the power to upend man's life and lead him into damnation? Why is it important that we examine the origin of sin, its power, its limitation and God's one-off solution to sin? I believe that an understanding of who God is, what He has done, will help us know what we stand to gain if we accept the gift on offer. 

You see, if we examine the first sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden, there was a position God had placed the first man. He had daily and regular communion with God. He was given enough work to do in the Garden, but he was also warned about the dangers in the Garden. So he had relationship, he had work and then he also had limitations. All who will recognise and overcome temptation must know and understand these things. For all of us, we have been placed on God's earth to fulfil a purpose. My differs from all who read this, but they all flow into one ultimate purpose God has for all of us: eternal life at the end of our shift on earth. 

He has provided the context for that purpose, as well as the resources required for the fulfilment of that purpose. Anyone who will achieve his/her purpose must strictly adhere to the conditions and limitations laid down by God. God does not give anyone free rein to do as s/he pleases, but there are conditions and environments under which God's purpose can be fulfilled. You cannot lie down on a bed of adultery and expect the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. You cannot continue in sin and expect the grace of God to abound.

That is what gives today's extract its context. For anyone to be successfully tempted, he has to be DRAGGED AWAY AND ENTICED. It is hard for the devil to successfully tempt anyone who is totally focused on God. Peter focused on Jesus and was able to walk on water. As soon as he took his eyes off, he began to sink. As long as I do not allow my heart to be dragged away and enticed by the other evil options available, I am fine. This is why the work of God is always done in the human heart, not the brain or the body, but the heart. The heart is the seat of battle, where the dragging away and enticement is done. Once the heart is successfully enticed, danger is near. 

The danger can still be averted if the desire is nipped in the bud. For evil desire to conceive and give birth to sin, it takes time. That time could be used to flee whatever it is that is encouraging that temptation, or to change the channel you are watching, or to change the friends you move with or to change the entire environment, or to just cry out to God for His help. You must use the time between the conception of desire and its giving birth to take concrete steps to avoid sin. As soon as sin is given birth to, the end changes. If sin is not repented of, the end of it is death. That is why the Bible says when sin is fully mature or fully grown, it leads to death. 

As long as I realise I have sinned, God gives opportunity for repentance. As long as I realise that I need help, it is available as soon as I ask for it. I must not allow sin to mature before I deal with it, otherwise I will be courting eternal death. Don't take my word for it; check through the entire bible and point out just one person who sinned and got away with it. There is always forgiveness for all who repent, and it is left to God to sort the immediate or delayed consequences, where applicable. 

The message is this: God has done all there is to do to guarantee life for us. We must take advantage of this and flee all appearances of evil. We must avoid situations that lead to sin, and be quick to examine our lives and motives in the light of God's Word. Eternity is at stake here, and forever and ever is too long a time for me not to be sure where I want to spend it. His time of favour is here.