Flirting with the Forbidden

I've heard it called, "The Preacher Factory." That's where young men and women go to become Ministers of the Gospel, pastors, preachers of the Good News.

One of the instructors at a Bible College was fielding questions from his students when a young man preparing for the ministry raised his hand and asked this question. "Just how close to the edge of sin can you live and yet not sin?"

Instead of answering the question, the professor responded with this ... "I want to know why you would ask such a question? Why would you ever want to live that close to sin? Why is that question even in your mind?"

You have heard the phrase ... "You can't straddle the fence." Well, when you are talking about living the Christian life and you start getting closer to the edge of sinful behavior ... there is no fence to straddle ... it becomes a slippery slope. Get too close and you will start sliding down it and you will fall right on in.

It's called ... "Flirting with the Forbidden."

I'm sure you know the story where it all began. It started in a garden, one man and one woman with a choice. Before long we see a bloody body in a field, with his brother standing over him. That’s the legacy of mankind. The firstborn human murdering the second and a shattered mother weeping in the dark after her husband brings her dead son home.

When we’re tempted, it's usually to do the unthinkable; with Cain it was murder. The thought process planted in our mind during temptation is to make the unthinkable look more and more reasonable. Then, when it doesn’t seem so bad anymore, when it seems harmless, the next logical step for us is to go ahead and take a bite out of the forbidden fruit.

Ever since the tragic choice in the Garden of Eden, temptation has been the downfall for life on this planet. But most of us don’t just pluck the forbidden fruit and start eating. Instead, we first get curious about it and start thinking ... what would it hurt? Who would know?

 

Sin promises to taste delicious, but after you take a bite you soon discover that you end up with regrets, shame, confusion and hurt. Any time a sin seems safe or harmless ... watch out.

 

As believers and followers of Jesus, we need to learn the types of temptations and the times that do most frequently test our fleshly nature.

Jesus said in Matthew 26:41 ... "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Indeed, we are weak concerning temptations. It is much easier to keep from yielding to the natural propensities for certain desires of the flesh if we learn what our personal temptations are. Yours may be different than mine, but we all have them. In James 1:12-16 ... we are presented with a short overview of what temptation is and the end result of giving in to it.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren."

Let's look closer at these five verses and a few certain word's meanings.

Blessed is the man that "endureth temptation" ... meaning ... to bear up under, to persevere ... a putting to proof, to experience testing. You don't have to give in to temptation.

God does not tempt people with sin. But God will allow you to be tested so you will know what you are made of. God already knows. That's why the word "temptation" also means a putting to proof, a test.

When he is "tried" ... or to be found acceptable, approved.

Every man is "tempted" (or scrutinized, tested) when he is drawn away "of his own lust" ... pertaining to self, one's own longing or desire.

And "enticed" ... to entrap, figuratively, to delude.

When lust hath "conceived" ... meaning to clasp, seize, capture ... it "bringeth forth" (it produces) sin.

James concurs with what Jesus said ... do not enter into temptation because the flesh is weak. It's been that way since the first two humans were placed in the Garden. Their flesh was weak even before they sinned. Because they became fallen creatures, the children in each future generation were born with fallen natures as verified in ...

Genesis 6:5 ... "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

Jesus speaks about the condition of the heart of man in Mark 7:21-23 when He says ...

"... from within, out of the heart of men, (meaning the thoughts or feelings of the mind) proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within ..."

Heart and mind are usually translated from the same word, either can be correct ... meaning your inner being, referred to as your soul by some people. So, whatever word or phrase you choose to use ... the Apostle Paul gives some good advice and instruction on how to help rid ourselves of the old carnal fallen nature.

Romans 12:2 ... "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind ..."

2nd Corinthians 10:5 ... "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ..."

What's he saying? Change your thinking. Watch and ... guard your heart.

Proverbs 4:23 ... "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." (Amplified Bible)

Two men who I always consider what they have to say on scripture, including the Proverb above are ... Adam Clarke and John Gill.

Adam Clarke remarks ... "Above all keeping, guard thy heart. He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray."

John Gill also comments on this proverb ... "Above all keeping, keep thine heart ... though other things are to be kept, and care taken of them, yet the heart above all."

So ... "guard your heart" ... against temptation.

Do not ... "Flirt with the Forbidden."

Comments welcome.