Quite often, people see temptation through a narrow prism. As a result, they neither understand its full ramifications nor are they on their guards; they open themselves to easy fall. In reality, the word “temptation” has two perspectives. In relation to God, it means testing or trial. He tests our confidence, commitment and consecration to Him. With it, He proves to the devil and the world that we are His children. For instance, Job’s trial was to prove his redemption and that he was a righteous man who would not compromise.
On the other hand, Satan uses temptation as an enticement to make us fall and rebel against God. Therefore, the word temptation has the connotation of testing and enticement to do evil. When we encounter trial, which Satan turns into enticement, we should “count it all joy because blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.”
Many people have a limited understanding of temptation. They are ignorant of the fact that temptation can be “diverse.” A person who is confronted by different kinds of enemies from different directions, but recognises only one of them will not be on his guard against others. That makes defeat unavoidable.
From the Bible, we see the examples of Adam, Abraham, Aaron, the 10 spies, Achan, Hezekiah, Joshua and Peter. They did not distinguish situations that came to them as temptations. Thus, they yielded. Inability to recognise the diversity of temptation makes a deadly trap look like a desirable treasure. Temptations are not only about women, wealth, worldliness; money, men, material things, girls, gold or glory. That is why Jesus warns that we should “watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.” He was saying in essence that at all times, we must ensure that we have the right perception and understand the process of temptations and tastings.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” God does not tempt sinners or saints. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” So, he cannot blame Satan, people, circumstance or his community for falling into temptation. This is because there is no conception without one’s consent, personal and active participation. It is when lust is conceived that it “bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished (finalised and put to action) bringeth forth death.”
Temptation draws people away to sin and perdition. The pull to sin comes from the inside. While salvation weakens the depravity on the inside and sanctification destroys it. Lustful imaginations, wrong desires and inordinate affections do not come from the outside, but “out of the heart of men;” and it is “that which cometh out of the man that defileth him.”
Achan in the Bible started when he “saw” the goodly Babylonish garment, silver and gold. He then “coveted” and “took” them. He saw and kept on looking until his depraved heart suggested to him to covet and take what he saw. Looking continuously at an object of temptation makes the undesirable become the desirable, and leads to strategising on how to practise sin. The scripture says: “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.”
• Further Reading (King James Version): James 1:2,12,14,15. James 1:13-15; Genesis 6:5; Mark 7:20-23; Joshua 7:21; Isaiah 44:20; Micah 2:1-3.
