How to Meet Temptations
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that
man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
James 1:2-7
.
What greater promises could be given us than are found in these
verses? A cunning and cruel foe attends our steps, and is working
every moment, with all his strength and skill, to turn us from the
right way. Ever since he succeeded in overcoming our first parents in
their beautiful Eden home, he has been engaged in this work. More
than six thousand years of continual practice has greatly increased his
skill to deceive and allure. On the other hand, he who once yields
to temptation becomes spiritually weak, and yields more readily the
second time. Every repetition of sin blinds his eyes, stifles conviction,
and weakens his power of resistance. Thus while the power of the
human race to resist temptation is continually decreasing, Satan’s skill
and power to tempt are continually increasing. This is one great reason
why the temptations of the last days will be more severe than those of
any other age.
The admonition of the Saviour is, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not
into temptation.” If Satan cannot prevent persons from exercising faith,
he will try to lead them to presume upon the willingness and power of
God, by placing themselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation.
Presumption is a most common temptation, and as Satan assails men
with this, he obtains the victory nine times out of ten. Those who
profess to be followers of Christ, and who claim by their faith to
be enlisted in the warfare against all evil in their nature, frequently
plunge without thought into temptations from which it would require
a miracle to bring them forth unsullied. Meditation and prayer would
28