Silently Approaching

I put my packages in the back of the mini van.
I turned to put my shopping cart in the designated area.
I maneuvered the cart into position.
I started to walk back across the aisle to my car.

Out of nowhere, I looked up and saw a car right next to me.
I was stunned because I never heard it approaching.

It was an electric car.
Wonderful for fuel economy…but utterly silent in the parking lot.
When the car continued on its way, there was no sound.

Battery-powered cars are intrinsically quiet, the motor sound falling between a whir and a whisper…so says a New York Times review of the car.

I was very grateful that the driver saw me, since I never heard him approaching.
I was very grateful to God for His protection.

So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:12,13)

Temptation very rarely comes with a brass band announcing its arrival.
Temptation usually comes packaged very nicely…very acceptably…very quietly.
Often, we don’t see or hear the temptation approaching.
Then all of a sudden, it is upon us.

I listened to a radio program years ago that talked about temptation.
I gleaned one very important point that I have never forgotten.
When temptation is upon you, that is NOT the time to figure out what to do.

The person talking said you must determine your UNSHAKABLE UNBREAKABLES.
They must be determined beforehand.
They are the things you will and will not do…no matter what!

The closer we get to the Lord, the more our wants and desires are in line with His.
However, everyone has an Achilles heel…and the enemy knows it!
The enemy knows just how to tempt each of us.
Uniquely.

All is not lost.
We hold onto the promise: God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.

Temptation in and of itself is not a sin.
We know that because Jesus was tempted for forty days in the desert.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent Him out into the desert, and He was in the desert forty days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals and the angels attended Him. (Mark 1:9-13)

The Spirit DROVE Jesus into the wilderness.
For forty days, while Jesus was tired, hungry, and weary, Satan tempted Him.
Jesus combated each of Satan’s temptations with the Word of God.

Over and over, as each temptation was presented, Jesus answered…IT IS WRITTEN.
He used the Sword of the Spirit…the Word of God…as an offensive and defensive weapon.

Jesus was tempted but He never sinned.
Jesus modeled what we are to do when we are tempted.

Temptation will continue to creep…continue to slither…into our lives.
Temptation comes disguised.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time.
(Luke 4:13)

The audacity of the enemy.
The enemy’s opportune times are usually when we are most vulnerable.

We cannot handle temptation alone.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just a we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 5:15,16)

Eyes to see.
Ears to hear.
A promise to hold onto…In Him…we will be able to stand.