Temptations - Part 2

Its so easy to judge the sin of others – because the consequence of sin (once it has run its course) is disgusting, repulsive, devastating.

But when we, ourselves, face temptation, sin looks like paradise.

Temptation has the power to reach into the hidden and secret parts of our soul, awakening desires we never knew were there. Temptation paints a picture of what life could be. Of a better version of ourselves. Temptation sings a song of a better future, calling us to it. It whispers boldly over our shoulder into our ear with promises of escaping into heaven.

It creates an illusion.
It is a dream, so real when you are in it, but the moment you awake the ecstasy fades like a fistful of fine sand blown away by the cruel wind of reality.

How does one stay grounded, anchored – so as not to be swayed by temptation?

Consider a young man named Joseph, well-built, handsome and of good character. Working as a slave in the house of a wealthy man, he rose to such a position that he oversaw all the dealings in the house. The master’s wife desired Joseph and pursued him with words of seduction day after day. He firmly and respectfully declined her invitation each time. Expecting that she would wear him down, and obviously not used to being refused, one day she caught him by the cloak and physically pressed herself against him. Joseph ran! He ran so fast and so violently he left his cloak in her hand.

I wonder how this constant temptation would have worked out in his heart and mind. His master only concerned himself with the food he ate. Joseph took care of every single other thing, surely he was more valuable and powerful than the master himself. If it wasn’t for Joseph this house would come to ruin. It seemed as though the master had become so lazy he didn’t even notice his wife any longer – she needed a real man to love her. Imagine he and her leading the household together. Perhaps temptation might have whispered something as illicit as the premature death of the old man – so that he and the beautiful lady of the house could share everything indeed, ruling over the estate!

How did he resist?

Listen to what he said to her each time she called to him: *
“But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.”

In his answering we see a few things:

• A sober awareness of his state. His position in life. His responsibilities. His recognition of how blessed he was in life was sincere. Who are you? Where has God placed you? Who has God called you to influence? What has He blessed you with? Meditate on these things. A strong awareness of these things will help diffuse the lies of temptation.
• He saw that everything he had was from God, and he had a healthy fear of God, and knew that sinning by going to the master’s wife was primarily sinning against God, and this awareness of God’s awesomeness, righteousness and holiness was so strong that he would not go against it.

It seems to me that Joseph had pre-meditated his response to the seductress. He had anticipated the damage and consequence of giving in to this very real temptation. He thought ahead. So should we. When we are captivated, hypnotized, staring into the thin veil of paradise we rarely look through it at the consequences. It is difficult to anticipate the regret. But it is so important.

Consider what God has blessed you with. Temptation aims to rob you of every blessing God has given you, and even every blessing He had planned to give you. Meditate on, and even visualize losing all you hold dear. Feel the pain, the shame and regret that would settle on you once the dream fades. Determine beforehand that you will run, when faced with temptation.

More to come.
justdonlon

* Read the full account of Joseph’s story here