Temptation

  Temptation is something we all deal with in life. The ability to order our desires is one of the fundamental areas of self control that separate the mature adult from the immaturity of childhood. How can we resist the temptation to fulfill our desires inappropriately? What is a legitimate desire?

  We falter and fall victim to temptation when we refuse to subordinate and order our desires to the right place, the right time and the right purpose. Temptation to sin pushes, coerces, and ultimately imprisons its victims. Desire surrendered to a structure and order inspired by its author and creator (God) fulfills, satisfies and completes. When we remove desire from the authority of its author we pervert it... and ourselves. Nothing is more painful to watch than a man or woman chasing desire at the wrong time, in the wrong place, for the wrong reasons.

  A holy and integrated life..... a life of integrity is a huge challenge in a world where we deify desire and refuse to acknowledge the author of our appetites. God is no 'cosmic' joy killer. God created every sensual pleasure in existence. He created it all not to torment us by removing it just beyond our grasp, but to place it in its proper context.... for ultimate fulfillment.

  The difference between lust and love is paramount in understanding how to overcome the torment of temptation. Lust is about taking and controlling something or someone for one's own gain....irrespective of the other. The challenge and irony of lust is that no matter how much one grasps and controls the 'thing' we hold onto slips just beyond our grasp.... like grains of sand through our fingers. Lust just never delivers what we desire.

  We are tempted to lust more than we care to admit. Lust involves three key areas of temptation: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (See 1 John 2:16) The lust of the flesh involves the broken inner lives of men & women ..... our sinful nature which tends toward rebellion and self worship above everything else. The lust of the eyes simply denotes the gateway to most sins. We see and we want. We don't apply a more mature and discerning approach to our desires. Marketers and profiteers of this broken world understand the power of the visual and will 'sell' you what you want, when you want it.... right now.....for the right price....your soul.  The pride of life involves an inordinate concern with ourselves and how we are seen by others.... the desire for supremacy in life's pecking order. The pride of life demands that we be at the center of life's events and ranking systems. We want to be #1.

  The tragedy of lust is that it demands more and more to be satisfied while delivering less and less actual satisfaction. It's a trap of immense tragedy. There is only one way out: Surrender. Surrender of desire, surrender of purpose, surrender of yourself... to the one who created desire to be satisfied in the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose..... with the right people. He is your creator, redeemer, savior and Lord.... and he never disappoints. The beauty of not 'getting what you want' is you're left with what you really need, love.

Jim