James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.
Temptation is common to man, according to the Scriptures and proven by experience. Every one of us in this fleshly body is bombarded daily with numerous enticements to do evil.
To be enticed is to be lured, or drawn away, as our verse says, from the right path. If you have lived in this old body very long, you know that doing right is a choice and there are many opportunities to stray.
In I Corinthians 10:13, Paul speaks of another type temptation that we all may face. This is not a temptation to do evil, but a test or trial of our faith. Paul says “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
It is the common lot of man to go through testing to learn that God can be trusted. No matter how bad the trial we are facing, with God, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Being tempted to sin is not a sin, but yielding to the temptation is where the sin lies.
The old gospel hymn says “Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; each victory will help you some other to win; fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue; look ever to Jesus, he’ll carry you through.” Jesus is the answer. Look upon him, and all lust will lose its appeal.
In the trials of Job, the devil meant it to draw him away from God, but instead it drew him closer. Job’s famous words of faith are recorded in the book of Job chapter 13, verse 15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
We all have a choice. The temptation to sin or the trials of life will either drive us away, or draw us nearer. There is always a way of escape. Proverbs 3:5,6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”