Where Are You in the Temptation Process?

 
 
 
By David Sproule
 
Picture this in your mind.  There is a fish who is safely tucked away and minding his own business in the rocks and thick grass of the riverbed.  He is doing just fine.  Then, something catches his eye.  There is something dancing around near the surface of the water.  It looks rather intriguing.  What could it be?  Dare he come out of his spot to check it out?  No!  He doesn’t want to take a chance.  Not now.

So, the fish stays put.  But every once in a while, the sparkle of the sun against this dancing object draws his eyes again to the surface.  Before he realizes it, he is glancing up at that enticing object more than he is paying attention to life around him, and without realizing it, he begins to inch out of his place of safety and into the open water.  His curiosity and cravings get the better of him and he drifts closer and closer to this alluring phenomenon. 

He finally sees it clearly and he wants it.  It almost seems to have him in a trance with some kind of tractor beam effect.  He begins to circle this tantalizing wonder, swimming around it several times to get a better look, consider his options and make up his mind, “Is it worth it?”  Finally, he cannot hold himself back any longer and he takes a bite.  Next thing he knows, he’s pulled out of his home and into a frying pan.

The illustration above depicts what happens to us in the temptation process.  Read James 1:14-15.  “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
We may think we are tucked away safely, but then something enticing catches our eye.  At first, we might ignore it, but the longer it presents itself, the more intrigued we become.  Before we know it, we have inched away from where we should be and find ourself in the open water of vulnerability.  While we still have time to get back to safety, sometimes the temptation is so strong that we give in to it, rather than flee from it.  We take the bite.  Sometimes the realization of what we have done hits us immediately; sometimes it hits us later.  Regardless, we’re in Satan’s frying pan.

​Friend, where are you in the temptation process?  Has something sinful caught your eye?  Divert and close your eyes!  “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (Psa. 101:3).  Have you been lured from your place of safety?  “Turn” back immediately (Jas. 5:20).  Are you about read to give in?  “Flee,” “resist” “cry out to God” (1 Pet. 2:11; Jas. 4:7; 2 Chron. 7:14).  Did you already bite?  “Repent and pray to God” that you may “be forgiven” (Acts 8:22).  Temptation is strong, but with God’s strength (Eph. 6:10), you are stronger (1 John 4:4).