‘It’s coming down, coming down, the snow is coming down! It’s coming down coming down, the snow is coming down!’ Yes friends, that soft white fluffy, pretty looking but ever so dangerous stuff is coming down out there, promising to lay and egg of about 15 cm high! Serious stuff that yes! Lots of schools have already shut down for the day and the roads will be a total mess, especially in the evening commute.
But what’s a li’l snow when we have Jesus to lead and guide us eh? Nothing really! And I’m talking big here but as the Lord would have it, I have to go into the big city of T.O to check my pacemaker, and believe me I’m going, come hell or high water, because I don’t believe it’s working as it should and I’m tired with this tired, short of breath feeling I’m still getting. It’s not going to be easy slugging, but I’m going!
Aye mih first born…aren’t you proud of the ole fella, that he’s not canceling this appointment despite the bad weather? I know you are! (smile) And talking about that I just saw an interesting and rather appropriate quote from Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) on the subject. He says that ‘A trial is for the purpose of purifying and strengthening us.’ Let’s hope this trial of going into the city today in this ridiculous weather does purify and strengthen me. (smile)
But on the other hand, Uncle Charles claims that ‘A temptation is for the purpose of enticing us to sin, to pollute us.’ And do temptations ever abound in this sinful and ungodly world. However, we have to note one important thing here; temptation is not sin, it only becomes sin when we fall for the temptation. Remember Jesus was tempted too during His fast of forty days and nights in the wilderness. (Matt.4:1-11) And He kept telling Satan ‘It is written…’ quoting the Good Book for him.
But He never fell for any of the temptations, therefore He did not sin. And neither will we, if we don’t give into the temptations that constantly buffet and bombard us in this fallen world. And the author of Hebrews tells it to us in plain language: ‘For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched (sympathize) with the feeling of our infirmities (our weaknesses); but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ (Heb.4:15)
Yes my people, Jesus underwent all the stuff we are going through, so He can certainly empathize with the pressures that we experience in our daily lives. That’s what makes Him so great as our High Priest and Intercessor; He has first hand knowledge of the world’s temptations and sinful conniving!
And the scholars offer an interesting point here: ‘Temptation is greatest in duration and intensity when one does not accept the “easy” way out by sinning. If man’s temptation is greater when he endures it, surely Christ’s was great since He had no alternative, in His humanity, but to endure it.’
Yeh friends, Christ had no choice but to endure it, for he could not sin, otherwise the whole plan for payment of our sin debts and salvation would have gone down the drain, since only a sinless soul could pay for us. But we have the option to sin, if we so desire, not that we would desire to do such a foolish thing eh! (smile)
And what the scholars said earlier on, that temptation lasts longer and is more intense when you resist it, is certainly true. I’m sure you’ve noticed that in your own lives. And the author of Hebrews also offers another gem in the temptation problem, re Jesus. ‘For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (aid) them that are tempted.’ (Heb.2:18) Gospel truth that my brethren! We are ale to help others better when we have already experienced their situations.
But listen to these words of Bruh Paul to the church at Corinth, outlining this glorious promise of our wonderful God, who’s always there to help us. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’
Yes friends, all men are subject to temptation, but we must realize three things here: (1) Our God will never give us more than we can bear. (2) He will always make a way out. Not necessarily escaping the temptation completely, but allowing us to go through it and coming out safely on the other side. (3) He will be right there with us at every step through thick and thin of that temptation! Glory to our wonderful God!
So please remember that temptations will always assault us, but we don’t have to fall for them, because we have a High Priest who can empathize with us, and also a heavenly Father who’s made provision for us to be able to endure whatever comes against us. We couldn’t ask for more.
Now let’s go home this Wednesday declaring (wrong again) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know our serious position in Christ. Wailing, as one: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah mih people, how wonderful is our Jesus eh! Let’s be wise and embrace Him with all we have nuh! That’s wisdom to the nth degree! Much LOVE!
…with all that Jesus suffered for us…and currently offers us…why would we ever in our right minds…turn Him down eh…