Overcoming Temptation (Part 6)

Always Be on Guard.

Notice that when the temptation was over that “Satan leaveth Him…” (Matt. 4:11). Does that mean that once the temptation was over that Satan left Christ alone and never bothered Him again? Luke’s account sheds a little  more light on the subject by saying what Satan left Him “…for a season” (Luke 4:13). While one may not read of Satan appearing before the Christ a second time, there are many instances where Satan was there in spirit (Matt. 16:1; Mark 10:2; Luke 11:16; John 8:6). If Christ was only left alone for a season, how long will the temptation leave us alone? Therefore, Christians must always be on guard.

This is why Christians must be willing to: Have a Ready Answer, Know God’s Word, Stand their Ground, and Always Be on Guard. James wrote, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jam. 4:7). But it will only be for a season.

Remember that Temptation has “Haunting Penalties.”

Go back to Prov. 7 for a moment. Knowing some of the basics behind temptation, the plan of attack by temptation, and even how to combat it, the Christian must be reminded of the penalties for yielding. “With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” (Prov. 7:21-27). The young man is basically given a death sentence. Why? What if the husband comes home to catch the two in the act? They’re both likely to die either by the hands of the husband or decree of the Law of Moses. Even if the two are never caught, there’s the eternal punishment that waits. Remember the words of James. Temptation leads to sin. Sin leads to spiritual death. It is like the large mouth bass that is attracted to a lure. He takes it in, the hook is set, and if he cannot wriggle free he ends up on the burner. We get attracted to the lure that is sin through temptation. Once that hook is set, unless we can wriggle free through the act of repentance, we end up on the eternal burner.