One thing we should recognize, though, is that temptation is common. I don't mean in the sense of quality; some temptation is extraordinarily hard to deal with. It is common in the sense of universality--every human that has ever walked the earth has had to deal with it, from Adam up to you and I today. That's one reason that Christ is the perfect mediator on our behalf to the Father; you see, God can't be tempted as you and I, Jas 1:1--but Jesus became God in the flesh, and following that, was tempted "in all points" as we are (although He committed no sin, Heb 4:15). So, while at times it seems that no one else could be faced with such difficult choices to make, or with something so hard to say no to, the fact is that many others on earth have to deal with the same kinds of temptation--even God Himself understands what it is that we are going through.
But while we are not alone in the problem of temptation, we can't blame our temptations on anyone else. James points out that "...each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed," Jas 1:14. If we are tempted by something, it is because we want it; we can't blame it on circumstances, other individuals, and certainly not God (v13)--really, not even Satan. Today, it is typical for us to blame the environment for someone committing a crime--he was poor and uneducated; he had a family to support, and had to rob the gas station. We might blame others--for instance, the church: they don't have a "youth ministry," or the teachers and preacher weren't interesting enough; if they had been, he wouldn't have gone bad like this. We might even give up on God, saying, "How could a good God allow my suffering," when in reality, it's just that it is easier (and so, more desirable) to blame Him than to look at the real issues that caused the suffering, or recognizing that sometimes "time and chance" happen to us all. While Satan uses circumstances and other individuals to provide the opportunity for temptation, when we are tempted, we ourselves are to blame; no one else.
Of course, the real concern is that falling prey to temptation means that you have sinned; and that leads to spiritual death: "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death," Jas 1:15. While some teach that once you are saved, you cannot fall away, certainly the apostles didn't teach that. Paul knew that his work with others could all have been in vain, if they gave in to their temptations. Knowing that the brethren in Thessalonica would be persecuted, he wrote to them, "...when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain," 1 Thess 3:5. He knew that they would be tempted to turn away from Christ because of persecution, and to destruction--just as each one of us would be!
Fortunately, temptation can be avoided; but it takes effort. Jesus said to his disciples, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak," Mk 14:38. If we are to withstand the offers of Satan, we have to first keep on the lookout for his approach--we must watch. Don't put yourself in a situation where you are likely to be tested; but if you find yourself in such a position, stand ready! Paul alluded to this in 1 Cor 7:5, dealing with the husband/wife relationship; while they might legitimately refrain from intimate behavior for a time to focus on God, they needed to watch out that it didn't provide for temptation! Someone has noted that the acronym HALT helps to recognize some potentially unsafe situations: never allow yourself to become too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely, or too Tired. All these circumstances provide a breeding ground for temptation. That being the case, "...put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts," Rom 13:14.
Second, we need to pray for strength and courage. God will certainly provide it! Seek for a deeper faith. In the parable of the soils, "...the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away," Lk 8:13. The more deeply rooted our faith is in Christ, the more difficult a time it is for Satan to provide for our downfall.
As we had noted earlier, Paul was concerned that those at Thessalonica had fallen prey to temptation, and had fallen away; but instead found they had not been defeated by it, and was comforted because of their faith, 1 Thess 3:7. They had been subjected to tribulation, but came through it with their faith intact. So, we find, not only can temptation be avoided; it can be overcome! In fact, scripture reveals that we have a great ally against temptation--God Himself. He has promised that there is no temptation that is so great that we cannot overcome it; rather, He will always ensure that there is a way out--and he expects us to use it, 1 Cor 10:11-13. One thing that this means, however, is that if we are to conquer, it will only be done through Christ. As Christians, we stand in the power of His might, not our own. While there may be some benefit derived from psychoanalysts, from self-help books, etc., ultimately, lasting victory over temptation can only come through Christ and His word--the Bible.
We will face temptation every day of our lives; but we need not give in to it. Thanks be to God that, although in the past we have given in, and may still in the time we have remaining, through Christ we still have the victory--over sin and over death, 1 Cor 15:57!
