The progression of temptation

“Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” -James 1:14

A few quick examples of this in action:

Eve. Often, the first mention of a thing in Scripture is very important.  The first mention of temptation is found in Genesis 3, with Eve.  This is the serpent’s attempt to entice Eve: “God knows that the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened (v5).”  And again, this is what the Scripture says about Eve’s temptation: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that it was desirable to make one wise, she took fruit from it and ate…(v6).”  Do you remember the definition of lust?  It is a turning away of the eyes from Christ.  Here lust grips Eve as she turns her eyes on the temptation, “then lust, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death (James 1:15).”

David.  David’s problem was that he put down his sword.  Soon enough, he found himself walking on the rooftop with a wandering eye.  The scripture frames his temptation this way: “…from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.  So David sent and inquired about the woman (v2-3, italics mine).”  He is carried away and enticed by the lust in his heart over what he has seen.  It is important to note that David’s lust was not merely a physical inclination, but indicated that his focus had shifted from God’s calling to his own gratification.

That is the essence of temptation.  I don’t want to only strike at the one aspect of sexual temptation here.  The point I am trying to make is that the temptation to sin always involves a shift from a Godly focus to a carnal one.  When the moment of temptation arrives, we are tempted not only to an action which defies God’s law, but a change of spiritual direction.   It has been noted many times that pruning the fruit from a tree will not stop the tree from producing that fruit.  The roots must be dealt with.  So here I want to encourage you to recognize that your temptation is not merely physical.  The sin that entices you, no matter what sin it is, involves a spiritual war between two Kingdoms.  The point is not to get you to commit one sin, but to change your alliance.

Do you see where the definition of purity comes in?  One definition of pure is ceremonial cleanness, but the importance of purity is much deeper than ceremony.  Being pure means keeping oneself undivided, untainted, free from mixture.  Pure gold is gold that has no impurities.  Pure Truth is the authentic, undiluted reflection of the One who claimed to be Truth.  Purity should not be considered merely modesty, but being of a singular mind and passion–being united with Christ.

Temptation, then, comes as a mistress to our affections.  Temptation comes to make us double-minded and unstable (James 1:8).  Temptation comes to dilute our purity and dim our Light.  Temptation comes to “carry us away” so that we may be destroyed.