Often times we expect temptation to march through the front door, dressed like a wolf, announcing itself loudly as it comes. And we find it hard to withstand because it comes from the tempter himself, the devil who knows exactly what he’s doing. He looks for our weak points, the gaps in our armor. Our temptations are unique to our characters, life stages, histories, and future longings, and they will change as we grow older. They might be ambition, pride, discontentment, or ingratitude. They’re all so hard to identify. So, we need to have the courage to look closely at what our temptations are and remind ourselves that God will also provide a way of escape so that we can endure it (1 Corinth 10:13). Today, even as I write this essay, I am tempted to reconsider it, however after much contemplation and prayer I have noted down three themes of temptations that youths in big cities like Delhi could be facing and ways to overcome them hoping it would be helpful.
1. The Temptation of Ungodliness
We live in a secular world where we are susceptible to being blinded by the pursuit of attaining the greatest knowledge and defining our version of what ‘success’ means. The reason why I chose ungodliness as one of the themes is that the majority of us come from far-flung villages and towns seeking to expand our knowledge and skills in the capital of our country where top institutions of national importance or top corporations are located. But during our pursuit, we could be losing the grasp of the Author of our lives who brought us here for His glorification because we can be greatly influenced by our surroundings and worldly beliefs. We can be easily tempted to live as if God does not exist, pushing Him to the periphery, losing ourselves, and craving for worldly treasures to attain the so-called success making us ungodly. Our vast knowledge of science, philosophy, of politics could be blinding us from the actual truth although throughout history it has always been the quest of men to understand God’s creation and divine glory. Amid the chaos, we can unknowingly fall prey to temptation and become like the ones described by Paul in Romans 1:21-23. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. That’s why Psalm 14:1 begins with, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” This is certainly not a statement of intellectual incapacity. It’s an illustration of the misguided defiance of the heart of man, for there is no one to whom God has not made himself known.
2. The Temptation of Isolation
As stated above, we come to big cities like Delhi seeking for better opportunities by leaving behind our families and loved ones. In the city, we experience more free will, without the affection or supervision of our parents by settling alone. As humans, we are all the more tempted with the liberty to do what we like, and follow our lustful desires in our association with unbelievers, and sometimes depressive thoughts bombard us when we are alone, without company, especially in times of sickness. And when sin or conscience begin to overwhelm us, we feel like a burden to fellow Christians or loved ones so we try to further isolate ourselves. We can bring in here the temptation that Joseph faced in Genesis 39:11, which tells us that none of the household servants were there when he was tempted and he could have taken the opportunity to sin but he did not sin. Likewise, when we are isolated and alone, we are most tempted to do things that we think human eyes won’t be able to see. We are tempted to be vulnerable in our lowest moments. And as a lion that devours for a straggler (the one animal that wanders away from the pack), the Scripture tells us that the devil is doing the same thing. While it is also totally fine to be an introvert who needs time alone to recharge, we must also be careful that it does not hold the final word on our personality as it offers a great excuse for not stretching ourselves. Rebecca McLaughin in her book, “Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion” rightly describes: “The further I go on in life, the more convinced I am that every Christian is a struggling Christian, dependent on help from brothers and sisters who know their needs and vulnerabilities. Lungs don’t work without hearts, or legs without feet. We’re simply not designed for solo flight.”
3. The Temptation of Pleasure
In 2 Timothy 3:4, Paul wrote that people will be lovers of pleasure “more than” lovers of God. This means people will be excessive lovers of pleasure — much, much more than they are lovers of God. Their desire for their pleasure will be so great that it will far surpass their devotion, respect, and service to God. In times like today, most of our thinking is not ruled by what is morally right or morally wrong or what is pleasing or displeasing to God, but by the question: How will this decision or action affect my own personal comfort, pleasure, or happiness? God is not against our being blessed or enjoying nice possessions, as long as we hold them in our hands and don’t allow them into our hearts. But when the acquisition of possessions becomes an obsession and takes first place in our lives, thereby affecting our obedience to God and His Word, it is wrong. It has become a form of idolatry. In Ezekiel 16:14- 15, God gave Israel the great gift of beauty but instead of glorifying God for the gift. They fell in love with the gift. They preferred the gift over the giver.
WAYS TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION
# Deal with it ruthlessly and immediately. Do not let the desires and passions grow as rivers do. Like Joseph in Genesis 39, run away or flee from whatever is tempting you.
# Jesus placed a high priority on prayer. He instructs us to ask God to “lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:10). He intercedes for us with the Father and is ready to help when we call on Him.
# Jesus placed a high priority on the Scriptures. He had immersed himself in them and was able to discern the nature of the temptations he faced in life and how to respond. Immerse yourself in the Bible even when you don’t feel like it, pleading earnestly with God to open your eyes to see.
# To be filled with the Holy Spirit – means consciously placing ourselves under His control. As we do this, the Holy Spirit will always be seeking to lead us into holiness i.e. Christlikeness. As Paul urged the Romans, we are to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
# To be alert to our areas of vulnerabilities. Pray and search your heart for those areas of vulnerability, list them down – the sins which you are especially susceptible to because the devil will attack at your weakest points and pray about it. In the later days of his ministry at the Church of Scotland, Robert Murray M’Cheyne once said, “The seed of every sin known to man is in my heart.”
# Seek counsel from a wise and godly Pastor or elder or an accountable partner or group for wisdom and prayer support to overcome temptation.
CONCLUSION
Since we live in a broken world, each one is tempted by his evil desires. Although in Christ, sin no longer reigns, however it remains. Even our best desires are God-given appetites that have the potential for evil and there is no time in life when we will be exempted from temptation except when we see Christ and be made like Him. And as the Gospel calls us to die to ourselves, to deny ourselves, and to pick up our cross and carry it (Luke 9:23). Obeying this call of God to pick up our cross and carry means that we will often be required to take the road of sacrifice - to humble ourselves with patience and obedience. Always remember that as strong as your sin or failure feels, the bond of your oneness with Jesus Christ is stronger still therefore, live the rest of your life mindful of your union with the Prince of Heaven. Lastly, it is my prayer that we may become a Christian Hedonist magnifying Christ by pursuing our maximum happiness in Him
