TEMPTATION, RESISTING

So often we say “Maybe” to sin instead of “No,” leaving the option open for us to say “Yes.” This is not resisting Satan or the temptations placed before us. We are like the person trying to get rid of a salesman on his doorstep without saying a firm “No” and closing the door. Though we say we are not interested in buying Satan’s product—sin—we leave the door ajar and continue to discuss the tempting wares. We leave open the possibility for the devil to make a sale. To resist temptation we must say a firm “No” and shut the door.1370

A little girl once said in response to a question about how to deal with temptation: “When Satan comes knocking at the door of my heart, I send Jesus to answer the door. When Satan sees Jesus, he says, ‘Oops, I am sorry, I must have the wrong house.’ ”1371

When tempted, learn the lesson of the dog. Anyone who has trained a dog to obey knows this scene. A bit of meat or bread is placed on the floor near the dog and the master says, “No!” which the dog knows means that he must not touch it. The dog will usually take his eyes off the food, because the temptation to disobey would be too great, and instead will fix his eyes on the master’s face. That is the lesson of the dog. Always look to the Master’s face.1372

When you flee temptation, leave no forwarding address.1373

Physical pressure is similar to the pressure of temptation in some respects. We can often escape it on our own, but we all have limits.

For example, even the atomic submarines built strongly enough to batter through the ice at the North Pole have a maximum crush depth limit beyond which they may not go with safety. The submarine Thresher exceeded that depth some years ago. As the pressure increased, the seawater crushed the sub’s heavy steel bulkheads as if they were made of cheap plastic. Searchers found only little pieces of that huge submarine.

Yet there are fish that live at the same depth in which the Thresher was crushed. How can these fish survive? The answer is that they have equal pressure within themselves. Thus it should be for all Christians. In ourselves we are doomed. But, in Christ, there is no temptation beyond our ability to resist.1374

Master Greenham, a Puritan divine, was once sought by a woman who was greatly tempted. Upon making inquiries into her way of life, Greenham found that she had little to do, and he told her: “That is the secret of your being so much tempted. Sister, if you are very busy, Satan may tempt you, but he will not easily prevail, and he will soon give up the attempt.”

Idle Christians are not tempted of the devil so much as they tempt the devil to tempt them.1375