“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” (James 1:13-16). Temptation is common to all human beings on the surface of earth, most especially those who love to do God’s will. There are those who attribute their weakness as the fault of others or even blaming God for falling into temptation. This reveals the ignorant of men on the source and process of temptation and generally too proud to accept the workings of the lust and evil desires in themselves.
Ignorance and pride push men so far to the place where they accuse God as the tempter, as the one enticing or soliciting them to do evil. God is neither the direct nor the remote cause of our temptation, sin, and damnation. He who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from sin, how can He tempt us or lead to sin that He wants to save and keep us from? Satan is the great accuser of God and man. He is ever at his wicked business of telling us that God does not love us, that God is the one that tempting us, wanting us to fall, rejoicing at our fall and having delight in our death and damnation. It is very important for us to know that “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Ans Satan is a liar (John 8:44), only those who accept his and permit his deception to take root in their hearts accuse of being the cause of their temptations, sin and evil. Who tempts us? Why are we tempted? What gives temptation so much strength to overcome some people? What provision has God made for us to overcome temptation? The Scriptures answer these and many other questions.
God is a holy God: He never entices us to do evil. His whole plan of redemption was designed to destroy sin and make us holy. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). If God expect us to be holy, how then can he encourage or entice any of His creatures to sin? That would be a violation of the purpose for which He gave His only begotten Son. God is holy, pure and perfect. He is not an agency of temptation. Evil of any type has no place in Him. He has no delight in making anyone to do evil. Evil or sin can never be an act of God.
As Adam and Eve shifted blame for their sin, so many today blame God for their temptation and sin. God cannot be a promoter of what is opposed to His holy nature.However, Satan brings temptation. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Satan, demons, men and circumstances may conspire together to tempt man, yet what causes him to yield and fall is within him. When man is tempted, draw away of his own lust, lure into trap – is a hunting term.” Enticed” is a fishing term. The destructive hook is hidden or covered by the desired bait. An appeal is made to the passion and consuming desired which is peculiar to the individual. “His own lust” pulls him into the trap. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting “(Galatians 6:7-8).
It is incredibly significant to know that temptation itself is not a sin but yielding to temptation is a sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, yet without sin (Matthew 4:1-11). This implies that God provides the strength, grace and power to overcome. The book of James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. God is always good and gracious; and does not change. As every good gift is from Him, so particularly our regeneration (the miracle of our new birth in Christ) and all the happy consequences of it are from Him. “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4).
Therefore, we owe the beginning, the strength and the consummation of our spiritual life to God. He accomplishes the new birth and all our spiritual victory by the instrumentality of the word of truth, as we daily study it meditatively and obey. Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ used the weapon, “it is written” when Satan tempted Him. The same sword of the Spirit is at our disposal to use against all the wiles of the devil. Being born again, we become “a kind of first fruits of His creatures”. And “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” (James1:12). May God give us the grace to endure and overcome every temptation that comes on our ways.