"Come on, lets do it! Everyone is doing it and I haven't seen anyone die from it so it must be okay! We are so far away from home and we have the freedom to do whatever we want. It will be fun!"
I remember hearing such words back in the day when I was still studying at university. It's such peer pressure that drove a few of my friends to take recreational drugs. They gave into their curiosity and pleasure seeking desire and didn't seem to care so much about the consequences of their behaviours.
They were well aware that their actions were wrong, however they still chose to go ahead. We can make any excuse to justify our behaviour.
When we are faced with such temptations, it's not always easy to walk away. We all have our weaknesses. Society tells us that we don't need to fight those desires and that it's okay to give in to what you really want regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
However, as Christians we are privileged to have the bible which provides moral guidelines and shows us how to live according to God's standards.
Temptations turning into sin
The society we live in will continually bombard us with messages that are contrary to the teachings of the bible. This societal influence coupled with our very own sinful desires, can drive us to do things that are unacceptable in the eyes of God. A temptation occurs when we are enticed into doing something that we know is wrong.
At times the temptation can be so great that it appears like there's no resisting it and you are easily drawn in. It's as if you forget yourself for a moment, and before you know it, you have given in and committed a sin.
How do we overcome ourselves and rise above the temptation?
Temptation is only but one of battles we are bound to face as christians. The real problem may not be the temptation itself, but how we choose to respond to it. The conflict lies between the desires of our flesh (sinful nature) and the spiritual (originating from God). Instead of following what God commands us to do, when we give into temptation, we are choosing to disobey the word of God.
So what are some of the ways that can help us say no to temptation and boldly walk away from them?
Firstly, we need to meditate on the word of God. We can choose to either apply it in our lives (James 1:22-26) or neglect it. There is so much wisdom in the word of God that can help us fight the desire to sin. Taking the time to pray and meditate on the word is a critical step that will aid our ability to resist temptations.
Secondly, we need to listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit. It can be so easy to block the things we do not want to hear and only listen to those things we want to hear. God's word reveals the error in our ways.
Thirdly, we should stop entertaining our minds with sinful thoughts. The mind is a very powerful tool and the more we choose to entertain such thoughts, the more likely they will come to fruition. James chapter 1 verses 14-15 states that we are tempted when by our own evil desire, we are dragged away and enticed. After the desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Omitting those things we know will poison our minds (e.g. watching pornography, gossip etc) can help us overcome our sinful desires.
Also, we should beware of placing ourselves in situations that will lure us and cause us to sin. Most of us are aware of our weaknesses. If alcohol abuse is your weakness for instance, it may be better to stay away from the pub. Or run as fast as you can as soon as you encounter a situation that is pulling you in the wrong direction. Don't fool yourself into believing that you are 'strong' and are able to handle the situation, as you may be setting yourself up for disaster.
The Word of God
I know I face many temptations everyday. The temptation to lie, to spend more than I can afford, to utter a bad word, to be sarcastic and the list could go on. The only way I can overcome my temptations is by allowing the word of God to truly live in my heart.
Succumbing to temptation has by far more dire consequences (can lead to death: Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18). However with God's help, I can keep kicking temptations to the kerb and walk away victorious.
Kandima Awendila was born in Mozambique and lives and works as an IT Service Desk Engineer on the Gold Coast.
Kandima Awendila's archive of articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/kandima-awendila.html