In the September 17th entry of his timeless classic “My Utmost for His Highest,” Oswald Chambers gives us an insightful and though-provoking take on how the enemy uses temptation to lure us into sin. Chambers explains, “Temptation is a suggested short cut to the realization of the highest at which I aim- not towards what I understand as evil, but towards what I understand as good.” This sheds a light on how the enemy succeeds in deceiving sometimes even the most seemingly committed of believers. Instead of enticing us with the most heinous of sins, Satan often begins with trying to coax us into simply taking short cuts in an attempt to achieve something that may be valid.
How many times have we heard the story of the pastor or counselor caught in a moral failure? I’ve never heard one that went like this: I was having a rough day, so I thought I’d run out and find the first available, needy woman to have an affair with… Rather, most of them go something like: she was there for me and really understood what I go through, without judging me… a short cut to to validation and intimacy- sharing topics and feelings that are meant only for our spouse, or for a trusted confidant of the same sex. In the Fall of 2007, I sat numb with disbelief as I watched the evening news unfold the tragedy of one of the most recognized names in evangelical Christianity. This pastor on camera admitted to having visited a male “massage therapist” and having bought Crystal Meth, though he did not use it. I do not know the entire story of how this leader sank to such a low point in his life and ministry, but one thing I am almost certain of- the temptation to visit a male “massage therapist” and buy Crystal Meth did not crop up one day after a tense board meeting at his church. Somewhere along the way in his life, the enemy began to tempt him with little short cuts- perhaps an inappropriate website, or conversations that exceeded the proper bounds of emotional intimacy with someone other than his spouse…
Several years ago, when I was working as an independent contractor, I was faced the temptation to take a “short cut.” According to my calculations, I owed about $10,000 to the IRS. However, when I called the IRS to confirm the amount of income reported from that employer, they had no record of it- only from another job I had done that year for an employer who was deducting taxes from each paycheck. I hung up the phone ecstatic- I was off the hook, scott-free! As you can imagine, my ecstasy was short-lived. In my heart, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “You can choose to perpetuate a curse over your life, or you can do the right thing and trust me to help you through this.” I wrestled over it for weeks, lost sleep, wrestled some more. After a few weeks, I filed all the paper work with the IRS, called them and pleaded for mercy (which I was surprised to find). We were able to pay off the entire debt in about eighteen months. Looking back on my situation with IRS, I can identify with Oswald Chambers description of temptation. I remember thinking to myself, “We don’t have $10,000 and the IRS certainly won’t miss it!” “Besides, they’re evil and overtax us anyway!” After all, I wasn’t hurting anyone and was just trying to protect us financially, right? Temptation: short cuts we take to achieve what we understand to be good. God gave me the grace to choose the right thing, although not easy at that moment.
Finally, if you find yourself tempted to take a short cut, God makes some wonderful promises to us. First of all, being tempted to sin, means that you’re human. I Cor. 10:13 tells us that “no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” Secondly, God Paul assures us that God is faithful and that along with the temptation, God provides “the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” This means that however we may be tempted, in every temptation, God is present, offering his power to help us do the right thing. May our temptation be an opportunity for us to grow closer to God.
