Wednesday, August 22, 2007
James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
TRUE ORIGINS . . .
God's Word here reminds us that we have no right to suggest that God entices us to sin or that God is ultimately behind it all, pulling the strings or using some agent to bring about our temptation to sin. God is not the source of evil, either directly or indirectly. Of course, this doesn't stop people from blaming God and evading personal responsibility.
After being caught red-handed doing exactly what God told them not to do, both of the first human beings tried to blame everyone except themselves. Adam said that God was ultimately to blame (Genesis 3:12): "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." When placed under the eye of suspicion, Eve said it was the snake's fault.
This type of thing still goes on today. "I can't help it. It was more temptation than I could handle. How can it be my fault? God made me this way!"
Truth is, God is not the source of treachery and temptation to sin. Do you want to know the truth about the origin of sinful desire? Temptation and sin begin with us. We are drawn into the paths of sin by our own desires. Desire leads to sin and sin ultimately leads to death, spiritual and eternal.
When God allows trials and temptation to come, let us remember that God has given us the means to defeat temptation, the Word of God, and has promised to be with us. God has also given us His Holy Spirit, who uses the Word to lead us in the right way. God often keeps temptation from us, especially that which is beyond our strength to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). And when God allows it, His purpose is to make us stronger.
While the ultimate end of sin is spiritual and eternal death, fear not my Christian friends. God has made a way of escape through His Son Jesus. He has paid our debt. Through the Spirit He works repentance in our hearts, that we sorrow over sin and trusting in Jesus are set free from sin and its consequences.
Those who sorrow over sin and trust in Christ for forgiveness will not see the end of sin's path.
