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Victory
73
outside the path of obedience. He would not force God to come to
His rescue and so fail to give us an example of trust and submission.
Jesus declared to Satan, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt
the Lord your God.’” God had already testified that Jesus was His
Son. To ask for proof now would be putting God’s word to the
test—tempting Him. We should not present our requests to God to
prove
whether He will fulfill His word, but
because
He will fulfill it;
[51]
not to prove that He loves us, but because He loves us. See
Hebrews
11:6
. Presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s
promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also
claims the promises, but it uses them to excuse transgression. Faith
would have led our first parents to trust the love of God and obey
His commands. Presumption led them to disobey His law, believing
that His great love would save them from the results of their sin. It
is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with
the conditions on which God grants His mercy.
Venturing on Satan’s Ground
If Satan can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the
way of temptation, he knows that victory is his. God will preserve
everyone who walks in the path of obedience. But to leave that path
is to step onto Satan’s ground. The Savior has instructed us, “Watch
and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
Mark 14:38
.
Often when we are placed in a difficult situation, we doubt that
the Spirit of God has led us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that
brought Jesus into the wilderness. When God brings us into trials,
He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume
on God’s promises by deliberately choosing to go into temptation.
Neither did He give up to feelings of despair when temptation came
upon Him. Nor should we. See
1 Corinthians 10:13
;
Psalm 50:14,
15
.
Jesus was the Victor in the second temptation, and now Satan
showed himself in his true character—as a mighty angel, though
fallen. He proclaimed himself the leader of rebellion and the god
of this world. Placing Jesus on a high mountain, he caused the
kingdoms of the world to pass in panoramic view before Him. The
sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and