“When the devil had
finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
Jesus
had been tempted for 40 days with hunger, fame, riches, and pride. Each attack
was a misreading of scripture - which Jesus responded to with correct
application of scripture. So, there is a lesson there… but let’s focus on the
end of the verse.
Christ
had just overcome every temptation the enemy had hurled at Him…and yet the
verse ends with satan leaving “until an opportune time.”
That
should make it clear that we can never drop our guard. No matter how big a
spiritual victory you are coming off of…. no matter how much God has done to
clean up your life…you are not immune to temptation and must stay vigilant.
I
assure you, no matter how well you’re doing, you’re an easier target than Jesus
was…and If satan was planning a follow up attack on Christ – you can bet he’s
not done tempting you.
Scripture
says be alert and sober minded… “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour”. Lions look for prey that is distracted… targets
that have wandered away from the herd, confident in their own strength…And when
prey escapes… lions begin planning their next attack.
You will never be in
more danger than when you believe you are untouchable. Spiritual growth does
not remove you from the danger zone and thinking it does puts you at more risk.
Your marriage, your career, your reputation…are all targets that satan wants to
kill, steal, and destroy. You must actively and intentionally protect them.
A reporter once asked
Billy Graham how his ministry had avoided scandals for so long, to which Reverend
Graham responded, “I run scared young man…I run scared”. Pride equals
destruction but humility brings prudence.
Don’t allow the enemy
an “opportune time”. Be in community with people who have your back. Stay in the Word. Keep your head on a swivel.
We are in a war – and will be - until we hear our King say, “Well done good and
faithful servant”. Then you can drop your sword and relax.
But until then, stay alert
and “play to the whistle.”
If you will tell me
when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armor, I will tell you when Satan
has left off temptation.
- Charles Spurgeon
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