I wish temptation would just go away! Unfortunately, it is part of everyday life. The Lord Jesus was tempted but did not sin (Luke 4:1–13). He understands our weaknesses and always provides a way of escape so that we may resist temptation and not sin (1 Cor 10:13; Heb 4:15). A few years ago the Lord impressed three statements on my heart that have helped me fight and resist temptations to sin. Each of the three was gleaned from the first moment of temptation and sin recorded in Genesis 3.
When I am tempted, I tell myself, “it’s not true, it’s not real, and it’s not satisfying.”
It’s NOT TRUE!
The story the temptation is telling me is not true. The people or spiritual beings that tempt me are lying. In the garden, the serpent told Eve that eating the fruit would make her like God, but it was a lie. Her and Adam became less like God because they sinned against him. They were created in God’s image without sin, but that image was tarnished by sin. The serpent told her she would not die, but she and Adam did die, spiritually and then physically.
When I am tempted to sin, that temptation makes all sorts of promises. “This great thing will happen! Oh, that bad thing, that’s not going to happen. All your dreams will come true. This sin will give you exactly what you’re yearning for.”
In the moment of temptation, we must stop and think. The devil is a liar. Ponder all the lies and half-truths entangled in those fake promises.
It’s NOT REAL!
The potentialities that tempt me are not real. The serpent told Eve that her eyes would be opened and that she would know good and evil. This half-truth opened up in her heart all sorts of potential benefits and blessings of being like God and knowing what God knows, but they weren’t real. What she thought were blessings were really curses.
When I am tempted to sin, that temptation introduces me to all sorts of potentialities. My life and situation will be so much better. All the things that hinder and frustrate me will melt away into the utopia of sinful bliss. But when you fall to temptation and get on the other side of sin, you realize that the potentialities were not real, it was a mirage, and now your hands are full of brokenness and your mouth is full of dirt.
In the moment of temptation, we must stop and think. The potentialities are a sleight-of-hand trick conjured up by the evil one and sinful desires. Think about what is real and what will really happen as a consequence of sin.
It’s NOT SATISFYING!
The result of giving in to temptation is never satisfying. Even if I get what I am chasing after, I will discover that it is not as fulfilling as I thought it would be. Most often, I don’t get what I am chasing after (again it’s not true or real), instead I’m unsatisfied with how it turned out and hungry for something else. Eve thought that eating the fruit and becoming like God would overflow her cup, but she and Adam ended up naked, ashamed, and hiding from God.
When I am tempted to sin, I feel like a little sin will make all my problems go away. But sin never keeps its promises, and I’m left with more problems.
In the moment of temptation, we must stop and think. Even if you get exactly what you want, you will not be satisfied in the end. Only Jesus satisfies. Think about what real satisfaction looks like and feels like according to the Word of God.
As you face temptation today, stop and think.
Don’t drift or rush. This temptation to sin is not true, not real, and not satisfying. Ask Jesus to help you see what is true, real, and satisfying. Jesus is powerful to help us in every weakness and temptation, and he is able to keep you from stumbling (Jude 24).
Justin D. Compton 