Articles
Opportunities For Failure
In Luke's account of the temptation of Jesus, he tells us that, afterwards, “when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). This scenario reminds us that the devil will try to tempt anyone and everyone, and that he will never really leave us alone. The fact that he was looking for another opportunity should motivate us to be on our guard, and to be prepared for the 'next time' he will attempt to draw us away.
But to be properly prepared means we must know what an “opportune time” is for him. When are we at are most susceptible to his efforts? What situations are most favorable to his attempts to lead us into sin? Let's consider just a few today, and let us then fortify our defenses so those times will be less and less frequent and he will turn his efforts elsewhere.
When We Are Weak. In the record of his temptation of Jesus, we find the devil waited until after Jesus had been fasting forty days and nights and was hungry (Matt. 4:2). Of course, the first thing he offered to Jesus was the temptation for Him to make the stones into bread — food! We should not be surprised; what better time to attempt to overpower someone than when they are weak? The devil knew this, and he began this series of temptations by appealing to a temporary physical need and trying to get Jesus to focus on fulfilling that need in any way possible.
That is how the devil will work against us, too. He will observe every aspect of our lives and he will learn our weaknesses, see when we have some need, and watch to see when we have a desire for something greater than it should be. He, too, knows “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (Jas. 1:13), so he watches for those times when our defenses are weak and he will use those desires against us and entice us to fulfill them in ways God never meant for us to do.
To prepare for such situations, be honest with yourself as to the weakness you have; if you ignore them, you should know that he will not ignore them. He will use them against you, so do your best to learn those weaknesses and then make sure they are no longer weaknesses. Strengthen yourself where you are most vulnerable.
When We Are Alone. It is no coincidence that we also find in this story that Jesus was alone. He knows that we are vulnerable when we are alone with our desires and no one to dissuade us or, possibly, see us. He knows that if he can appeal to those desires and convince us "no one will know," then he has a chance to succeed.
Think of all the crimes that are committed by men; how many of them are done, taking advantage of times when the victim is alone? That is the very reason your spiritual adversary is going to take advantage of the times when you are alone; he wants as little resistance as possible! That is why we hear of crimes and sins committed in solitude or with victims who are alone or isolated. He has convinced a great majority of the world that if "no one sees you, then no one knows."
Obviously, we cannot defend against this by always being around someone, but we can at least be aware of those times when we are alone that we should prepare for temptations to come. When alone, or even just out of sight of others, make a concerted effort to focus on spiritual matters and the things that will strengthen you, rather than weaken you or expose you to danger. Pray, read God's word, call a brother or sister in Christ. Just don't set yourself up for failure.
When We Are Discouraged. The devil will use discouragement as a means to tempt others, but he will also use times when we are already discouraged to lead us into sin, too. For instance, remember when the twelve spies returned from investigating the land of Canaan, and ten of the twelve gave a bad report? Moses looked back on that day and reminded the assembly those ten spies “discouraged our hearts, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven’” (Deut. 1:28). This discouragement led them to rebel against God's command to go into the land [i.e., sin], and to turn in their hearts back to Egypt.
The devil will do the same thing with us today, too. He will use those times we are discouraged to get us to start complaining about how brethren are treating us, how our spouses are treating us, how hard it is to live as a disciple, how much more the worldly are enjoying life than we are, and a hundred other things we seemed to have merely tolerated up to that point, and then we simply give up or give in. And the devil is standing by.
Here is where we must, again, be honest with ourselves. We need to stop, every so often, and make an honest self-evaluation and see whether we have allowed people or situations or just life itself to discourage us — and why. Recognize when those discouragements may lead us to make poor choices and/or lead us to sin, and then realize that much of what we have been convinced to complain about is coming from someone who merely wants to take advantage of us, or use us for their gain. Instead, find something to be thankful for; re-examine the ones or the things about which you are complaining or are the cause for your discouragement. Are the complaints valid? Is there a solution that doesn't involve sinful behavior? Can we find a reason to be encouraged instead?
When We Are Prospering. I know most people think the devil is only going to attack us in negative situations like discouragement, sorrow, or anger; but we must not think so lest he ambush us in other situations. Imagine an army who is advancing against the enemy, with little to no resistance. They keep pushing them back and seem to be about to wrap up the battle with a resounding victory, but then someone starts questioning the ease in which the army has advanced, and wonders aloud whether it is all a trap. It just may be!
It is tempting to think that the devil will only come for us when we are down and unhappy, but we should know that he works just as frequently among the prospering ones! And in this country, where we are materially prosperous, he has made great gains! He has so busied us with the pursuit of material gain, entertainment, and pleasure that we, as a society, no longer think about our souls, eternity, or his very existence. We are too busy trying to be 'happy' that he doesn't bother too much about trying to oppose truth; no one is interested, anyway! We're all too busy playing or watching sports, watching movies and listening to music, surfing the web for the latest cat video or "trending" item on Amazon, or posting endlessly to social media. All the while, the devil sits back and puts forth little effort to lead us into sin because he is content with us just not having time for or seeking God!
We have become too much like the foolish rich man who said to himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). And we will be just as surprised when God requires our souls.
Guard against this by not seeking the things and pleasures of this world (Col. 3:1, 2). Make opportunities for spiritual success, instead of opportunities for failure. — Steven Harper
