In the Valley of great Temptations

 
Temptation: In simple words an action aroused by the feelings to have or try certain things or perform certain acts to satisfy the carnal desires thereby leading to a trap for which some fall victim for a time or life long.

People fall into temptation/s when their battle against certain desires is lost and their being is surrendered for meeting the demands of those desires  whether good, bad or evil.

Fight to overcome temptation and to escape far from its venomous fangs is the fight of many today. Many develop alternate habits to get rid of the temptation they go through. But with that fall as a victim for one more. The later state bringing that person to the state worse than they were in the former state.

Narcotics, cigarette, alcohol, adultery in all its form, enhancement surgeries, unlimited unaffordable expenditures using credit cards etc., etc., the list goes on.

Starting with one small desire developing into temptation to experience, and that experience to addiction, the addiction leading to bondage, the bondage to deep struggle, and struggle to pain and confusion, from pain and confusion to self pity, and further from self pity to ill health and ill health towards feebleness and death which was not meant for that person.

Everybody walks at the dark end of the room. But, vigilant are those that change their direction when they see a ray of light by taking step towards that light. Victorious are they when they are soaked by its presence for there is deliverance.

Unavoidable fantasies, sleepless hours rolling over and over changing sides and the direction of the pillows, feeling drowsy at times when we travel, standing or sitting somewhere in the house or at work, feeling unproductive in anything he or she does, constant headache thinking of the same thing and a feeling of nervousness further enveloping that persons being, whether he / she sits, stands or walks the very image of the thing desired standing before the eyes blinding everything those around that person, thoughts in the mind revolving every moment to feel, to touch, to experience and be satisfied by that thing to which temptation has spread it net. Nothing looks too important to a person then a strong desire to fulfill the desire. Where can I have it? what can I do to have it, what to do after having it ? the mind plots the width, the length, the breadth and time frame.

From within a torn spirit and deep down in the dark corner of the heart a depressed soul crying

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24 – The Bible).

Why am I going through all these troubles? What did I do to anyone to deserve this? my life is totally undisciplined and my days are unproductive, all around me are so happy or seem to be like that, but look at me I am so unorganized, I cannot think right, act right, or even enjoy life like they do. Who will deliver me from all these troubles? when will I be delivered these troubles?

First of all it is wrong to assume that we are the only one going through such temptations, the gravity of the temptation at times forces us to believe that we are the only one who suffer. Lets carefully look at the following lines and read it again and again.

The Bible speaks of prophet Elijah in the book of Kings. God through this prophet confounded the unbelievers and showed his might in the land of Israel turning the heart of the people towards God and bringing fear on the people who worshiped the idol gods made of metal and rocks. Every true child of God today reads the life & works of Elijah in the Bible again and again and dreams of becoming like him one day. Elijah lifted up his voice to heaven and asked God to send fire and consume the offerings and God sent the burning fire from heaven which not only consumed the offerings, but also the woods, stones and dusts upon which the offering was laid and also licked dry the trenches of water which surrounded the alter upon which the offering was kept. He prayed God that there should not be rain in the land of Israel, and so it was for three and a half years (3-1/2) there was no rain in the land and there was great famine. He prayed again and the rains started pouring down. God gave Elijah water from the brook to drink and commanded the ravens to feed him who brought Elijah bread and meat in the morning and in the evening. There are so many thing about Elijah which if it is written goes to a very length, but we will stop discussing about him by reading how he left this world. The Bible says a chariot of fire, and horses of fire came down from heaven and took Elijah up by a whirlwind to heaven.

During his days was Elijah different from us? Let read what The Bible says,

"'Elijah WAS A MAN SUBJECT TO LIKE PASSIONS AS WE ARE, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." (James 5:17-18 – The Bible).

Elijah was no different from us.

King David fell into temptation by the beauty of Bathsheba and arranged the death of Uriah her husband by sending Uriah on the frontline to fight the battle where Uriah died, by which David incurred Gods anger. (II Samuel – 23:9 – The Bible). But in the days to come he regretted for his deeds and seeked God for forgiveness and strength. God describes David through His prophet Samuel,
"I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart." (The Acts 13:22 – The Bible).

Elijah the prophet and David the king went through the same temptations which we are all going through today. And so there are many instances in the Bible which if written in this article could really go very long.

Lets cheer up we are not alone in our fight against temptation. Millions of people around us are struggling. Prophets, kings and disciples of Jesus went through the same in great measure, but when they turned their face towards God and sought his assistance God gave them victory.

The Word of God says,

'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 – The Bible)

James the disciple of Jesus writes "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray." (James 5:14 – The Bible).

Jesus said,  "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." (Mathew 26:41 – The Bible).

How? he taught us in the Lords Prayer,

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Mathew 6:13 – The Bible).

Yes, all power and authority is Gods and he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us forever. Amen.

In Christ ... LOVINGLY = Manoj

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