There is tremendous division in this country with 180 degree ideologies that bear little similarity with one another, but one thing we all have in common is that we are equally tested and tempted and we all at times fail by succumbing to sin.
You might be immune to drug addiction, prostitutes, pornography, or alcoholism, but don’t be too smug, because something is looming out there that is trying to destroy your relationship with God with equal vigor and according to the Bible you will not always succeed in fighting it off. The Bible states that we are all tested and we all come up short on occasion. While God always provides an avenue of escape, so many times it just seems next to impossible to take it.
The Bible tells us that we ALL succumb to sin. I’ve read all of Billy Graham’s books and greatly respect this evangelist. Throughout his distinguished career he was not brought down by having an affair, or by the love of money, or by thinking he was a god himself, but this is not to say that he was without sin in his life. Although it is difficult for us to see it, or find evidence of it by examining his life from afar, without going into detail he mentions it rather frequently in his books and often laments how ashamed he is of his behavior.
So if sin and temptation to sin are common to us all as weak human beings, how do we conquer and defeat it?
A lady wrote to me over the weekend that she is distraught to no end about her son who cannot seem to stop taking drugs, this in spite of his undergoing multiple rehab stints. She is at the end of her rope and judging by her remarks is obviously totally disgusted by what her son has become, and is understandably very angry at him.
Through the years I’ve met thousands of people similarly addicted to various sins, and yet I’ve never met one who set a goal to become that way. It begins with flirting around with whatever sin it is, and is followed by some mild experimentation. It’s often encouraged by peers and those who are quick to call you their “friend”. It becomes easier after that first try, and is followed by trying it again, and then again, and again; usually over a long period of time and then one day you happen to notice that it has become all consuming and you just cannot seem to live without it.
Sex, money, gossip, lying, jealousy, material things, all are like a powerful undertow in the mighty ocean pulling us out to the deep dangerous sea of sin that can and will destroy our lives. In the eyes of the Lord, sin is sin. In reality the drug addict’s mom’s sins are just as terrible as her addicted son’s. All sin must be covered by the prescious blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ.
So we all are tempted and we at times have been weak and succumbed to it. I go back to my original question, “If sin and temptation to sin are common to us all, how do we conquer and defeat it?”
We cannot.
The Bible states that we can RESIST satan, but it is Jesus who will defeat him. Our job is to resist and not defeat. Without giving our enemy too much credit it would be foolhardy not to acknowledge that satan is more powerful than we are. After all he was created second to God and is the most beautiful and intelligent creature that God created. For reasons known only to God he was not stripped of those attributes when he was expelled from God’s presence, and he uses that beauty and intelligence to try and destroy us.
Alone we are no match for him, but like David and Goliath we can triumph if we draw close to God. Like the song says, “I am weak, but He is strong – Yes Jesus loves me”. We can resist temptation, but when confronted with it, we must look for that exit door provided by our loving Savior, and once we find it, we must use it.
Granted it is sometimes very difficult to do and that’s because satan knows our every weak point and exactly what “turns our clocks”. Perhaps Billy Graham would never have dreamed of committing adultery, or wouldn’t give a whit about money (or the things that it buys), but that does not make him immune to a lusting ego perhaps drawn to the power of presidents and being center stage at whatever cost.
In my own life I seem to triumph and fail miserably as I pick my way through the minefields of this temptation-laden life. Satan has used a full litany of temptations to try and ensnare me and unfortunately has had his share of success. It can be discouraging if one looks at past failures, or the enormity of lovercoming sins that we love for the long term. Alcoholics Anonymous and other organizations have a saying that goes something like, “Take it one day at a time”. That son who is addicted will only be able to contain his addictions by taking it one day at a time and relying on God to help him make it through the day.
The Bible beat AA to the punch on this one, it states in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. So we should concentrate fully on today and making it through TODAY without sinning, (especially that sin that we love/hate).
It will not be easy because our adversary is relentless, but focusing on God and looking for and taking the exit that He has provided will work each day – ONE DAY AT A TIME…STARTING TODAY
1 Cor. 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.