The nature of temptation

(Linked very much to my previous post)


James 1:14 – 15 Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death

Stage 1: an idea comes into your head

Stage 2: it keeps coming back

Stage 3: it becomes something you want to do but resist

Stage 4: It becomes something you want to do but are putting off till later, hopefully permanently

Stage 5: It becomes something that you are putting off till later.

Stage 6: It becomes something that you are going to do

Stage 7: It becomes something that you are doing

Stage 8: Regret!

Somewhere along the line it makes that transition from a temptation, a possibility, to an almost inevitable plan. ‘If’ becomes ‘when’.

I’m currently at stage 4.

Now this is where Satan starts to mock. “You can resist, but you know I’ll get you in the end”.

And this often leaves us with a sense of defeat.

But don’t forget all the times you said ‘no’ first. Each of those is a time you have resisted the devil, each of those is a time you have scored a goal. So what, if he gets a consolation goal in the last minute of the match! It’s still “Christians 10, Hell 1” – a walkover.

Not that we should get complacent – Manchester United should be defeating Small Village Amateur Geriatrix by a lot more than 10 to 1. And sin is still sin, with consequences to ourselves and those around us. We must still try our best to play at full strength. I’m just saying let’s not get too despondent if we ultimately give in, and lets not make out the devil always gets his way.