For forty days He was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:2
This week we begin the forty day journey known to Christians as Lent. The condensed version of the history of this event began around 230 AD when a group of Christians started fasting for the 40 hours leading up to Easter in order to prepare their hearts for this special day. Years later seven days of fasting were added, and it was called Holy Week. Around 325 AD the church officially made Lent forty days representing Jesus’ forty days of testing in the wilderness.
The Lenten journey begins with Ash Wednesday and ends in triumph on Easter Sunday. We take these forty days for self reflection, cathartic thinking, repentance, and confession. Although Ash Wednesday is never directly mentioned in the Bible, it is a celebrated event in church history.
During these forty days many people deny themselves or “give up” something that is important or meaningful to them. For example, every year I try to give up sweets for the forty days excluding Sundays, but inevitably I yield to temptation because the more I deny myself sweets, the more tempting they become!
Temptation is defined as the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise. It is also defined as the act of enticement to do wrong by the promise of pleasure or gain. Oscar Wilde said two things about temptation: First, “I can resist anything but temptation,” and secondly, “The best way to deal with temptation is to yield to it.” It’s much easier for me to just yield and be done with it, but that’s the easy way.
The Bible tells us in Luke chapter four, that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where Satan tempted him “in every way” for forty days. Jesus countered every device Satan threw at him and replied to each of Satan’s temptations saying, “It is written man shall not live by bread alone”, “worship your God and serve Him only”, and “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” He never yielded to the temptations put before Him.
The devil works in such devious ways. He persuades us to do something wrong by promising us something good. He puts dessert on the restaurant menu, he makes the grass look greener on the other side of the fence, and he encourages us that we hurt no one when we lie, cheat, or steal. There’s not a day that goes by in any of our lives when we aren’t tempted in some way. Temptation comes in all kinds of packages which seem innocent enough, but sometimes have lasting consequences. We all struggle with our temptation to gossip, lie, cheat, overeat, hold grudges, be unforgiving, even steal.
So how do we deal with temptation in our lives? Obviously, I have lost many battles with this, but first, it seems to me that temptation is inevitable. No matter who we are, there isn’t a place on earth that’s free from them. Everyday presents a constant battle to avoid temptation.
Secondly, we should remember that temptation is not sent from God. The responsibility for yielding to temptation rests with each of us. Sadly, there is an epidemic in our world of not taking responsibility for our own actions or blaming others for our mistakes. Just like kindergarten kids who fight and when the teacher asks, “Who started it?” the answer from both is always, “not me!”
Next, temptation is a personal matter. Adam and Eve gave into temptation in the garden of Eden and when God confronted Eve, she was the first person to ever say, “The Devil made me do it.” The devil tempted her, but did not force her. When we yield to temptation, it’s our fault!
Lastly, temptation always seems to follow a pattern. Just like a fish, who, when a worm is dropped into the water near him can either take the bait and be caught or swim past and live to be tempted another day. That’s how temptation works with us, we have to make a choice. Satan is the best fisherman in the world because he knows our weaknesses and tempts us with things that will most likely cause us to bite!
It’s easy to make excuses for yielding to temptations and assume that no one else knows how we feel, but we need to remember that Jesus has been there. He has felt the urge to yield, and understands our weakness. Most of the things that tempt us seem harmless at the time, but the ramifications can be never ending!
Remember, the temptations that come into our life are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we can’t stand up against it. When we are tempted, He will show us a way out so that we won’t give into it.
Maybe for Lent this year, we should “give up” temptation!