Trials and Temptations

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

TRIUMPHING OVER ADVERSITY

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."  - Galatians 6:1

Life is full of temptations! Regrettably, young and old alike are frequently caught in the snare of this age-old tyrant. Those who fall victim to its subtleties are often reluctant to accept their involvement, let alone acknowledge their guilt.

The Genesis record of the fall of our first parents is a classic case in point. After they had yielded to temptation and eaten of the forbidden fruit, God came into the garden to expose the folly of their sin. "Adam, hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" Immediately Adam sought to cover his tracks by blaming God. "Lord, it was that woman you created for me - she's responsible for this spiritual disaster!" Turning to the woman, God said, "What is this that thou hast done?" To absolve herself of any guilt Eve responded, "The devil made me do it - it's all his fault!"

To listen to these two we could be led to believe that they were innocent of any wrongdoing. However, the consequences of their actions tell quite a different story. As a result of their disobedience they were naked, ashamed and separated from the life of God.

Since everyone is susceptible to trials and temptations, we want to explore some of the various facets of these terms. Due to the transdispensational nature of this subject the experiences of those who have gone before us will prove to be enlightening.

THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham" (Genesis 22:1).

"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17).

Whenever we come across the word temptation in a biblical text, it must be determined from the outset whether the temptation is a testing from God or a solicitation to do evil. The context at such times is indispensable. Take, for example, the time God tempted Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Since we know that God never tempts anyone with the intent to do evil (James 1:13), we can safely conclude that God tried Abraham for the sole purpose of perfecting his faith.

One evening while Abraham was residing at Beersheba the voice of the Lord said to the patriarch, "take now thy son, thine only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Abraham had endured a number of trials at the hand of God, each of which strengthened his faith, but this was to be the supreme test. As we know, Isaac was the son of his old age, in whom rested the promises. Abraham valued the life of Isaac more than his own. But now the Lord was calling upon His friend to make the ultimate sacrifice as a demonstration of his complete obedience.

The decision weighed heavily upon Abraham throughout the night, but by faith he arose early in the morning to set out on the journey. As far as the patriarch was concerned, Isaac was already offered as a sacrifice in obedience to God. Upon their arrival at Moriah he instructed his servants, "Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." The full significance of this statement is beautiful.

As Isaac and Abraham began their ascent to the place that God had appointed, Isaac inquired of his father, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" This question must have brought great sadness to Abraham's heart, for as yet he had not revealed his intentions to his son. He thought it best to leave this delicate matter with the Lord. Only He could prepare Isaac for the hour of trial which was about to unfold.

Traditionally, Isaac is depicted here as a very young child of 7 or 8 years of age. However, those who have spent years studying the chronology of the Book of Genesis inform us that he was probably about 25 years of age at this time. We believe this conclusion is further substantiated by the fact that Isaac carried all of the wood for the offering himself - a daunting task for a man, let alone a little boy. Also, it is said that he reasoned with his father concerning the sacrifice (Genesis 22:6,7).

When they came to the place that God had told Abraham of, he built an altar and carefully arranged the wood. Afterward, he sat down with Isaac and explained to him that he was to be the sacrifice. Needless to say, Isaac's faith has won for him a place of honor among those who have been inducted into the Hall of Faith found in the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11:4-40). We believe it took just as much faith on Isaac's part to voluntarily lay down his life as it did for Abraham to take his son's life.

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

The narrative goes on to say that Abraham laid Isaac upon the altar, at which time he took the knife to slay his son. But he had no sooner drawn back the instrument of death when the angel of the Lord commanded him not to harm the lad. God was satisfied that he had placed total confidence in His ability "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."

You see, Abraham did not exercise what some call "blind faith." There is no such thing as blind Hebrews 11:19, where Abraham accounted "that God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead."

Abraham's faith in the integrity of God never wavered, which is clearly exhibited in his words mentioned earlier, "I and the lad will... come again to you." This statement indicates that he believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. Furthermore, the fulfillment of the former promises that, "in Isaac shall thy seed be called" depended upon God honoring His Word to Abraham. The trial of these two giants of the faith is rooted in the foreknowledge of God, which foreshadows the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. Who could fail to see that Isaac is a type of Christ, especially in light of the following:

Isaac - A Type of Christ

Abraham - father
God - Heavenly Father

Isaac - only begotten son
Christ - only begotten Son

Son of his father's love
Son of His Father's love

Abraham spared not his own son
God spared not His own Son, but gave Him for us all

Isaac - obedient unto death
Christ - obedient unto death

Substitute provided for Isaac
Christ Himself our Substitute

Isaac offered as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah, God's appointed place (Genesis 22:1-9).
Christ offered as a sacrifice at Jerusalem, or Moriah, God's appointed place (II Chronicles 3:1).

faith with God. According to the Scriptures, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith can be substantiated. In other words, it is always based upon something, such as the promise found in Each of us is an impressionable piece of clay that God wants to mold into the image of His dear Son. Every trial the Lord brings our way is an important part of this molding process. Even though these testings may seem overwhelming at times, they do serve a purpose. But, sadly, many have been known to complain, "Lord, why me? My burden is too great to bear!" Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves or blaming God, which is sometimes our tendency, the Lord would have us look beyond the external circumstances. In short, what is God teaching us through this experience?

Perhaps it would be good to consider some of the fruits of Abraham's trial. First, he learned that obedience is well-pleasing to God. Thus, it won for him a place among the heroes of the faith, and the title, "Friend of God." Secondly, he was taught that God is a God of the living, not of the dead. Thirdly, his appreciation of the bodily resurrection was no doubt enhanced. Fourthly, the bond in this father/son relationship was made even stronger. But most importantly, Abraham's faith in God reached new levels.

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

A BELOVED PASSAGE

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Some trials that come our way are a result of living in a sinful world. Others are an all-out assault of the enemy. Subsequently, they would fall under the category of the permissive will of God. Let's face it, the Christian life is not always a bed of roses; it also contains times that are too painful to think about. We sometimes are called upon to endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3). The "unholy trinity" of sickness, disease and death stalks each and every one of us, like a lion stalks its prey. If the Lord tarries, it is not a question of if, but when one of these three will overtake us or one of our loved ones, bringing with it sorrow and grief.

The Apostle Paul in his life had his share of rewarding experiences, but we must never lose sight of the fact that he also experienced a lion's share of adversity. I am sure most would agree that the apostle probably suffered more than any other believer who has ever lived. He had been beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, in perils of robbers, in perils of the wilderness, etc. (II Corinthians 11:24-29). These are but a sample of what Paul endured, yet it was he who penned the famous Romans 8:28 passage, "all things work together for good."

Romans 8:28 is probably one of the most beloved and widely used passages in all of Paul's epistles. When things go wrong you can be as sure as the sun rises and sets that this Scripture verse will be quoted by someone. However, in the day of calamity the last thing we need to hear is that what has just happened to us is good. That is not what the Apostle Paul meant when he recorded this passage under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

While Paul could write to the Romans "we know," I am not so sure we could say that of many in our day who do not rightly divide the Word of truth. It has been my experience that there are numerous believers who "don't know" and "don't understand" what the apostle is expressing here concerning God's perfect plan for the Christian life.

Surely, we would not call a divorce situation good - nor would the parties involved. When the State Police stand at your front door and inform you that your daughter or son has been in a tragic automobile accident, that's not good news. And what about the time your employer notified you that because of the depressed economic picture the company was going to let you go after 35 years of service? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't call that good. These are unsettling moments in life that cause the foundations to shake. They are to be viewed as bitter circumstances that come into our lives because we live in a world of sorrow and sin.

In our attempt to understand what Paul means by his statement "all things work together for good" it will be necessary for us to break the passage down in order to analyze it. First of all, "all things" spoken of here refers to everything that has transpired in the Christian life, from the day we were saved to the hour of our death. It includes the honorable things we have given ourselves to, such as bringing lost souls to Christ, speaking the truth in love, winning the victory over temptation, etc.

It is essential for us to understand that the above phrase also embraces the distressing things, which often beset us as we serve Christ. Not just those unpleasant moments previously mentioned, but also those times of discouragement, misunderstandings, and unfortunate delays. When all of these favorable and unfavorable circumstances are brought together into the melting pot of our entire Christian experience, the end result will be, all things working together for good! It takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow, as they say!

AN IMPORTANT ILLUSTRATION

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Illustrations are windows that allow more light to shine through." With this in mind, perhaps the following illustration will help us to better understand Romans 8:28.

Remember back when you were a little boy or girl and your grandmother baked cakes from scratch (a rare sight, indeed, today). Grandma began by setting all of the ingredients out on the kitchen counter as she prepared to create another memorable moment for a young, impressionable grandchild. There would have been the raw eggs, the canister of sugar, the container of flour and the box of cocoa. Of course, most of us were not satisfied with just watching, we wanted to play an active part. As taste testers, we began by sticking our finger in the canister of sugar which proved to be rewarding - after all it was one of the sweet ingredients. Next, was the container of flour, at best it was bland, not stimulating much interest. One wouldn't mind to pass up this part. Finally, we tried testing the sour milk. YUCK! Thankfully, the Lord did not say, "Man shall live by raw ingredients alone!" No doubt about it, there were some bitter ingredients on that counter.

Grandmother would take those sweet, bland and bitter ingredients, mix them all together into a batter and pour it into a waiting pan. She then would place the pan into the oven, baking the cake for a predetermined amount of time. When the cake was done being frosted, it was one of the most delicious things you ever tasted. The point is this: all those ingredients, both bitter and sweet, worked together for good. The end result was not only good, but it also brought a sense of satisfaction to grandmother's heart for a job well done.

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

WORKING TOGETHER

God's perfect plan for our lives is much like grandma's chocolate cake. The key word in Romans 8:28 is TOGETHER. As only God can, He is working in and through us to carry out the counsel of His will (Philippians 2:12,13). He takes the pleasant seasons of our lives and all of the unhappy circumstances that beset us and He combines them all together in the mixing bowl of life. When He pours them out into the mold of eternal life and all things are manifest at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the final outcome is going to be good and for His glory.

You see, "all things" do not always work out for our present, apparent good, but surely for our future, eternal good. So then, the next time the check-in clerk at the airport tells you your flight has been cancelled, instead of going to pieces, perhaps it would be better to accept the news as one of those bitter ingredients that in the end will prove to be a blessing.

Using a hypothetical case, let's say you were able to cope with the discouraging ordeal so well that an onlooker stopped you to comment on how well you took the bad news about the flight cancellation. Graciously, you turn to the gentleman to thank him for his kindness while at the same time slipping a gospel tract into his hand, never to see him again. To your amazement at the Judgment Seat of Christ you learn that the gentleman was saved as a direct result of your unfortunate airline cancellation, or was it unfortunate after all? Sometimes our disappointments are God's appointments!

Should you have the occasion to quote Romans 8:28 be sure to take great care not to add insult to injury. This is exactly what we do when we tell someone that their loss is good. We should acknowledge a tragedy to be just that ("weep with them that weep" - Romans 12:15).

God doesn't comfort us to be comfortable, but rather that we might comfort others. Our counsel for those who hurt ought to be to take comfort in the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our time of trial (II Corinthians 1:3,4). We need to share with them that, "There hath no temptation [trial] taken you, but such as is common to man" (I Corinthians 10:13).

In other words, someone before you has been through the same grueling experience. God was faithful to see them through, by providing a way of escape that they might be able to bear it. God's ways of escape are many and varied. He may use a godly counselor who guides you through troubled times by finding a biblical solution to your problem. Perhaps it is an unforeseen change in circumstances that brings immediate deliverance from an unpleasant situation.

Sometimes God will bring a Christian friend alongside who gives you an idea that you may never have thought of. These are only three of hundreds of ways God often uses to help us escape those fiery trials which can be character builders. Whatever the case may be, always remember the Lord takes care of His own.

We need to assure those overwhelmed with sorrow that while we do not have all the answers now, we will have them in eternity when we understand all the "whys" and "wherefores" of many things that have taken place. Since there are so many factors involved that we presently don't understand, it is best to leave such delicate matters in the hands of the Lord. We can rest in the blessed truth that the Judge of the earth will do right.

In addition, we can take great comfort in the fact that the final outcome will manifest God's best for the believer, and bring great satisfaction to our loving heavenly Father who worked out His perfect plan in our lives to the praise of His glory.

TEMPTATION TO DO EVIL

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  - James 1:13-15

The famous German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer made the following insightful
statement on temptation prior to his martyrdom at the hands of the Nazis during World War II:

"In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power, desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames. It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire or ambition or vanity or desire for revenge or love of fame and power or greed for money or, finally, the strange desire for the beauty of the world, of nature. Joy in God... is extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, He loses all reality, and only desire for the creature [of the flesh] is real; the only reality is the devil. Satan does not fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.... The lust thus aroused envelops the mind and will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us."

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

The above passage from the Book of James clearly teaches us that God never tempts man with evil. Our Lord does not even enter into the picture in this regard; therefore, we are dealing only with the fallen sons of Adam. As we know, there are some things that just never seem to change - the old homestead down by the creek, the taste of grandma's pumpkin pie, the majesty of the Grand Canyon, etc. Temptation has not changed either, yet men still fall victim to its unmerciful grip. With this in mind, James gives us some wise counsel as to how to avoid falling into the pit of despondency. To begin with he says:

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God."

God can not and will not tempt us to do wrong, which, of course, would be contrary to His very nature. Such times are normally a subtle attack of Satan or the product of our own doing. Interestingly, temptation always follows the same path which leads to the Valley of Despair. The first stop along the way is the Hamlet of Inescapability - "But every man is tempted." Absolutely no one is exempt from being tempted; even our Lord was tempted of the devil (Luke 4:1-13). It is not a question of "if" but "when" we find ourselves in its clutches. Temptation to sin is not itself sinful; it is when our sinful nature responds that we sin.

We may feel somewhat uncomfortable in the early stages of a temptation, but the real danger is when we arrive at Yielding Corners. Here we are faced with one of two choices: flee to safety like the patriarch Joseph, or yield to sin such as in the case of Adam.

"Every man…is drawn away of his own lust and enticed."

The word "enticed" used here by James is a fishing term which means to lure by bait. Those of us who love to fish understand that the presentation of the bait is of the utmost importance. Every angler knows that fish, especially the trophies, are very cautious by nature. They will sometimes follow artificial lures 20 or 30 times, but never strike. If a fisherman uses live bait he attempts to make it look as tantalizing as possible. As the fish is enticed by the prospect of a delicious dinner, he will often nudge the bait and then swim to a safe distance. Gradually he is drawn to the bait, and then suddenly he strikes. But to his surprise there is an angler at the other end of the line who sets the hook and makes the catch. Dinner is served!

Temptation to sin follows a similar course of enticement. Perhaps it is a drug pusher trying to encourage a young teen to "do" drugs. "It won't hurt you; everybody's doing it. I'll tell you what, I'm going to give you a free sample of cocaine since you are such a good friend. Try it, you'll soar to new heights." When this teen reaches out to receive those drugs, he's hooked! Yielding to this particular temptation has dire consequences.

Those who yield to temptation have no one to blame but themselves, for each of us is individually responsible for our actions. Bear in mind again the words of James, "every man...is drawn away of his own lust and enticed." The key statement here is "his own lust." Man yields to temptation of his own volition.

Sorry, but you can't say in your defense, "The Devil made me do it!" While the Devil can tempt you to sin against God, he can not make you sin - you are responsible for making that choice.

Our journey ends at Death Valley. As we have seen, Satan cannot cause us to sin, but he can attractively package it to appear -  oh so inviting and acceptable. As we are painfully aware, he ever so subtly drew Adam and Eve's attention to the forbidden fruit. He simply set things in motion and our first parents took it from there. Adam saw that the tree was good for food - the lust of the flesh - perhaps God has withheld something from me? The tree was also pleasant to look upon - the lust of the eyes - I have every right to partake! Indeed, it is a tree to be desired to make one wise - the pride of life - I want to be like God and know the difference between good and evil.

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, it bringeth forth death."

Sin always has consequences. For the teen that yielded to temptation there is a life of addiction, stealing, heartbreak, and in all probability an early death.

Adam and Eve found themselves separated from God. Adam hid himself, as it were, from the Lord. He was destitute, not to mention that by his one act of disobedience, death passed upon us all (Romans 5:12-14).

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

AVOIDING TEMPTATION

A. The Folly of Samson

The lives of Joseph and Samson are classic examples of the proper and improper ways of handling temptation. Few men have been more blessed than Samson. Having received the Nazarite vow from his birth, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines to whom she was subservient.

With sheer supernatural strength Samson killed a lion with his bare hands. On another occasion He tied the tails of three hundred foxes together and attached a flammable material between each pair of tails. When the foxes were set loose in the fields of the enemy they naturally ran for their lives destroying everything in their path. Subsequently, the entire harvest of the Philistines was wiped out by fire. At Ramathlehi, Samson slew one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. And at Gaza when the enemy surrounded him he merely ripped the iron gates of the city from their moorings and carried them off to a hill before Hebron (Judges 14-16).

Even in his death Samson courageously pulled down strongholds, insomuch that he killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life (Judges 16:27-31). But there was one enemy that proved to be stronger than this mighty man of valor - TEMPTATION. Rather than fleeing from its deadly allurement, he was enticed again and again by the tantalizing smell of perfume and the embrace of a beautiful woman. Delilah was the last of his sordid affairs which ultimately brought his downfall. She deceived him by her treacherous ways to reveal the secret of his strength. Like putty in her hands, Samson foolishly forsook the God of his fathers for a few moments of pleasure; a decision we might add that brought severe consequences.

With his strength gone, the Philistines bored out his eyes; thus, he would never again see the beauty of another woman. And the sweet smell of perfume that once intoxicated Samson suddenly turned into the stench of a pit when they made him grind in the prison house. The life of Samson is epitomized in the words of Marshall Hayden: "In every sense the crisis of the moment is decided only by the tenor of life; nor, since the world began has any man been dragged over into the domain of evil, who had not strayed carelessly or gazed curiously or lingered guiltily beside its verge."

B. Joseph's flight

Shortly after Joseph was sold into Egypt he was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. When the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph, Potiphar responded in kind by making Joseph overseer over all that he possessed. As the son of Jacob sought to faithfully carry out his responsibilities, a temptress unexpectedly entered his life. Potiphar's wife cast her eyes on the young lad, enticing him to have an adulterous relationship with her. Joseph's reaction to her request is a good example of how to properly respond when tempted to do evil.

"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9).

Interestingly, Joseph not only recognized the moral wrong of such an act, he more importantly saw it as a sin against the Lord. Oftentimes this latter part is overlooked when believers dabble with enticement. As noted earlier, this is when men are blinded by their own lust and completely forget about God.

"Joseph's reaction... is a good example of how to properly respond when tempted to do evil."

When the temptress saw that her solicitations were met with resistance, she caught Joseph by the garment and said, "Lie with me." He reacted to her unwholesome advance by fleeing out of the house so quickly that he left his coat in her hand. One of the best ways to avoid temptation is not to permit yourself to be drawn into its slippery ways. It has been correctly said that we have a term for those who flirt with temptation and think they can do so with impunity: we call them VICTIMS!

A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO A TROUBLING PROBLEM

In the event we find ourselves in the clutches of temptation, it is important to confront the temptation with the Word of God. Every time the tempter came to our Lord during His forty-day fast in the wilderness, He answered the devil with a passage of Scripture. You have to fight fire with fire!

If you are tempted to marry someone who is unsaved, the Word of God plainly states: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (II Corinthians 6:14).

Temptation will talk you into pursuing a relationship that you know in your heart of hearts would be wrong. It will cause you to reason, "but he swept me off my feet. He's tall, dark, and handsome -  a real gentleman. After all, he's the man of my dreams - well educated, strong, and decisive." If you yield to this sort of reasoning, in all probability, this dream will become your worst nightmare. A spiritual loneliness in this type of relationship will be your best friend in the end.

A very dear friend of our family experienced this very thing. She was married to an unbeliever but never enjoyed what it was like to have fellowship in the gospel with her husband. He wanted nothing to do with spiritual things and never darkened a church door, to her dismay. She commented to me one day that while she loved her husband and would never think of leaving him, she regretted that she was married to an unbeliever.

The world says, "Don't be so narrow-minded with such puritanical beliefs." But it is our firm conviction that a believer should only date and marry those who are in the Lord (I Corinthians 7:39; II Corinthians 6:11-18 cf. Ephesians 5:21-33).

If you are tempted to steal, the Word of God says: "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good" (Ephesians 4:28).

In a recent survey by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, 33 percent of High School and 16 percent of College students said they'd stolen something in the last year.

Do Christians steal? Sadly, the answer to the question is, yes! Sometimes believers do fall victim to this temptation as well. In fact, some of the Ephesians Paul was addressing were guilty of this very sin.

Here temptation says, "Go ahead, slip it in your pocket, you owe it to yourself. Everybody's doing it these days." With the wheels set in motion, a young person's desire sometimes runs roughshod over what is morally right, as seen in the survey. Consequently, his rationale is: "This store will never miss one Blackberry; why they make more money in one week than I make in a year." With sin crouching at the door of opportunity, the young man yields to the temptation and cautiously removes the security strip from the box so he doesn't trip the alarm at the door. He's home free, or at least he thinks so! What he completely forgot about in his moment of blinding desire was this, from the time he entered the store to the time he returned to his car he was under surveillance, especially when he started acting suspicious. Once he leaves the store, Security will be waiting to arrest him for stealing.

[nChrist]

Trials and Temptations
by Paul M. Sadler
Berean Searchlight - Berean Bible Society
Free Subscription www.bereanbiblesociety.org
berean@execpc.com

The solution to stealing according to the Scriptures is to work. If the young man in the above account wanted a Blackberry and he didn't have the money for it, he should have simply worked a few extra hours a week to purchase it. Interestingly, Paul adds to the foregoing passage: "that he may have to give to him that needeth." In other words, believers are to look for opportunities to assist those who are having financial trouble so they don't have to steal to make ends meet, which inevitably would bring a reproach to the name of Christ.

We cannot place enough emphasis on the importance of distinguishing between trials and temptations; they are two distinct lines of teaching. The trial of our faith is more precious than fine gold. It tempers the metal to insure it is fit for the Master's use. On the other side of the coin, thankfully, we can have victory over the temptation to sin against God by simply following instructions found in the Word of God, which is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path that we might walk worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?"