Big temptations

A good Christian friend of mine and I went to a restaurant the other day and the hostess, who appeared to be about 18 years of age and was dressed “fit to kill” in a micro-mini skirt, took us to our table. She was wearing a very loose fitting and low-cut top and when she bent over to hand us our menus her breasts nearly flopped out on the table. This occurred approximately six inches in front of my face. I was stunned and caught completely caught by surprise and my eyes were innocently and quite naturally fixated on the sight unfolding in front of my face.


I must have been staring uncontrollably because she looked at me as if she was offended and as though I was a dirty old man and a pervert for staring at her breasts as she stalked away. My friend, (whose eyes appeared to be bulging out of his head), and I looked at each other, and I said, “Did you see that?” He very rapidly shook his head affirmatively several times, and was now blinking uncontrollably as a bead of sweat rolled down his face. “Well what did you think I asked?” He was beet red and obviously uncomfortable with the situation that he was in. He appeared to have a slight tremor in his hands and was stammering and stuttering as he tried to find an appropriate answer. He finally said in short bursts something about the way females dress nowadays and it is no small wonder that some of them get sexually assaulted I had to laugh

I doubt there are many men or women for that matter that are not confronted with some similar situation almost on a daily basis. In Florida, home of the tall, the tan, the young, the lovely, the thong and the Speedo swim suits, it is even more prevalent. There is an infamous sandbar alongside the inlet or cut that I sometimes use to get to the marina where I can obtain gas for my boat.

The sandbar along the channel is about two or three feet deep; the water is a beautiful turquoise and emerald green color and the very sandy bottom is snow white and the gentle waves of passing boats reflect the light creating an iridescent shimmering effect. Hundreds and hundreds of boats anchor along this channel and people hang out to enjoy the gentle tropical breeze and warm Florida sun with music blaring while they wade in the knee deep water enjoying their beverages. It is nearly always wall to wall with bikini clad lasses who often tire of wearing their tops and are proudly sunning themselves right there in front of the world. (There are lads there too, but I do not pay them any attention.)

Although gas is more expensive at the marina inside this particular cut, many boaters get gas there anyway, (although I cannot confirm this, my theory is that this is done in order that they might ride through this particular channel to view the pleasant scenery). In fact some of the boat captains that I know make repeated trips back and forth to the marina; it is amazing how much stuff they need from that marina that requires them to go back and forth and back and forth through this channel. It is also amazing how very slowly they navigate the channel; (to be sure this must be for safety reasons and the large number of boats)

OK what to think about all of this? Hmmm First we must realize that it is not a sin to be tempted. Sin occurs when we yield to temptation and not when we are initially tempted. To tell the truth I wonder who is at fault. Is it the tempted or the temptress? Or both? If someone dresses as described above and we happen to be an innocent observer, can we be legitimately expected as a red blooded all American man to recoil when confronted with such a situation and cover our eyes somehow?

I find it interesting that the Bible states that God does not tempt us and that all temptation comes from satan. Obviously God allows us to be tempted perhaps as a test, but the Bible tells us that we are never tempted beyond our capacity to resist that temptation and that He always provides a means of escape.

Hmmm Escape route eh? In reality repeated trips are really not necessary through the sandbar cut; perhaps it is not really necessary to go so slowly though the sandbar cut, and come to think of it gas is much cheaper just another quarter of a mile down the beach from the sandbar cut and it is actually closer to my home Yep God provides a means of escape all right Doggone it

Who said it was easy being a Christian anyway?

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures
temptation; for when he has been
approved, he will receive the crown
of life which the Lord has promised
to those who love Him.
Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am tempted by God”, for
God cannot be tempted by evil, nor
does He Himself tempt anyone.
but each one is tempted when
he is drawn away by his own desires
and enticed.