Temptation

James 1:14-16 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

I watched a special on addiction last night on 60 minutes; the sad story of how opiates in many forms are stealing our youth at an alarming rate. I muttered something to Dana about how we just don’t understand addiction, and I truly meant it. I reflected on my own testimony, and even my continued struggles today with those sins that entice. I awoke this morning and found myself led by a devotion into the epistle of James, and there lie in it those struggles what we talked about. I again pondered, and realized through his Spirit, it is as simple as sin. Matthew Henry wrote, “Neither the devil nor any other person or thing is to be blamed so as to excuse ourselves, for the true origin of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. The combustible matter is in us through the flame bay be blown up by some outward causes.” As I compared four translations, it became evident how even interpretations have wavered in the wording of this text. We want to place blame on everything, but it is our DNA, and our DNA is the evidence of our need for Jesus Christ. We are fallen by nature, and the only right is the gospel of Jesus Christ; we have a need for God.

Addiction is evil in both the inward struggle, and the evidence that it brings. The inward struggle is hidden deep, manifesting itself in the mind, tugging and firing the pleasure sensors of the brain even before conception. The mind plays tricks with the memory for pre-euphoria; an enticement that leads to sin. The sin is then conceived, the pleasure temporary, and the vicious circle starts again. The effects of the addiction are limitless on those in the circle of influence; and sadly many forms of addiction lead to the users death, and we are not only talking of opiates here.

The only solution is a humbling realization that Jesus Christ is the only answer. I always loved Celebrate Recovery’s motto, “ True change begins with Jesus Christ.” The brokenness must be realized and confronted with the gospel. There is no sin that is not defeated eternally with what Jesus did for you. Even James wrote of this prior, 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. If you are struggling, the first thing you must do is to seek help. The next thing you must do is find accountability. Cry out to Jesus in the midst of the battle of the mind, and walk away from your temptation. The solution God gave you is to flee, run from it, to change the environment you are in, and that is the true beginning of change.