You ever notice how absolutely slick temptation operates? It almost seems to whisper to us. It appeals to our pleasures. It arouses our interests. And, it can cause us to fall all too quickly.

Temptation is like stepping into the quicksand of sin and then sinking fast. When temptation leads to sin, people respond in many ways. Some are filled with tremendous regret and shame. But most hide within the deep corners of their soul--afraid, alone, hurt, and ashamed--sometimes with relentless waves of guilt crashing in around them.

These are all pretty common experiences when we know we have gone too far, made the wrong choices, and led life in a reckless sort of way. And, when we give in to temptation, we ultimately walk down the road of self-destruction. Even worse, we can feel like there's no redemption.

You ever notice how temptation seems to creep around when we least expect it? We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are strong and can handle it. And, Satan seems to know just when to push our buttons. At precisely the wrong time--when our vigilance is weak and our defenses are down--the Enemy presents us with his temptation. He has a way of deceiving us into thinking it is all right, making us see various shades of gray rather than the black and white of right and wrong.

Seeing our weaknesses, Satan will tempt us and offer us compelling reasons to compromise.

• We are tempted toward greed as neighbors and coworkers assert that more is better--and then they live "the good life."
• We are tempted to gossip when we are genuinely concerned about someone, yet go too far by uncovering details that hurt and wound.
• We are tempted into wrong relationships because we fall prey to the myth that somebody is better than nobody is.
• We are tempted to steal a few small items from the office because we say nobody really gets hurt--this place has got plenty of stuff. Besides, they don't pay me enough anyway.
• Temptation to sexual gratification and lust creep into our thoughts as mass media flood our senses with sensuality.
• We are tempted into outbursts of anger, and deny our own responsibility for our hurtful behavior, instead blaming the other person, stating that if they would just do thus or so I wouldn't have to have these outbursts.

The list could go on. Is temptation a daily reality for you and me? I think the answer is pretty apparent. And anytime we don't flee temptation, we lose. We lose strength, self-respect, health, security, integrity, and safety. And often times the regret people experience feels unmanageable. Indeed, it is without forgiveness healing a person's guilt. And that is why we must guard our hearts.

The story is told about a policeman who was on duty during an ice storm. The ice was a half-inch thick on every tree in the area. He was called to a site where the ice and falling branches had caused a power line to come down; his duty was to keep people away from the area.

"There was a small tree near the fallen power line," he said, "the kind with a short trunk and lots of long thin branches. While that fallen power line was crackling and popping with electricity, it was throwing out sparks through the branches of that small tree. The sparks would reflect off the ice-covered branches sending out a rainbow of glimmering colors. I stood there and watched, and wondered how anything so beautiful could be so deadly."

Isn't that like the power of temptation and sin, sometimes? We see something that seems beautiful, but when we reach out to touch, it becomes death to us.

One of things that temptation is almost always connected to is some legitimate need that we have. And so often times people try to use things, places and people to bandage a wound in the soul and meet a need that cannot humanly be met. The need was created by God for only God to fill. Everything else will feel incomplete. Everyone has emotional needs that we try to meet in invalid ways such as friendships, emotional affairs, ministry, church work, and obsessions with appearance, food, and money. We grab onto false ways to meet our needs.

The truth is you and I long to be valued as whole and complete persons, for who we are and not just what we can do. And yet, many search for another person to meet the need; then get frustrated when the need is still unmet. It is God who satisfies emotionally. God who wants to reside in that deep place of our souls. And that is why no one and nothing else will ever fully meet that need, nor fill that place that exists for only God to fill.

Jesus' experience in the wilderness provides a lesson on how to deal with temptation. Being tempted is not a sin, but giving in to temptation is. After fasting and praying in the wilderness for forty days, Jesus was physically weakened and hungry. At that point, Satan came and suggested that Jesus turn stones into bread, to which Jesus responds that life is more than just bread. Said differently, life is more than our stuff! And nothing should get in the way of our relationship with God. God's Word is what is central to life, says Jesus.

The devil then leads Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and taunts him to throw himself down from it, as the angels will catch him. That act, says Jesus, is an unacceptable tempting of God.

Finally, the devil takes Jesus up to an exceptionally high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory. Worship me and this will all be yours, says Satan. To which Jesus responds, again by quoting Scripture, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."

The devil then left him.

Temptation always exposes in whom or what we ultimately trust.

Temptation and how we respond always reveals our true loyalties.

In terms of our faith, it begs the question, "Who do you trust in order to get your needs met?" And, Who do you trust in order to resolve a particular dilemma or challenge?

The model that Jesus gives to us is an unfailing trust in God to provide, and an unfailing trust in God's Word.

Now, wait a minute, you say, didn't the devil quote Scripture? Didn't the devil tempt Jesus to follow him by quoting the very Word of God that Jesus had just said one was to live by? Indeed.

In fact, it is not an uncommon occasion whatsoever for Scripture to be used for ungodly purposes.

It is not an uncommon occasion whatsoever for faith in God to be used for justification for ungodly purposes.

It is not an uncommon occasion whatsoever for God's name to be invoked for the very evil that God has come to eliminate.

It is not an uncommon occasion whatsoever for words of Scripture, of faith, of God to be used for the subtle workings of the devil as we are tempted not to trust in the way, the truth and the life of the Lord Jesus but in some other doctrine or principal or loyalty that just gives us the green light to take care of only our own interests or desires, instead of acting out of a love and mercy as was taught and shown so powerfully through Christ.

So, if it is our loyalty to Christ and to God's commandments that we are most tempted to give up, what is our defense? How can we fortify ourselves against acts and behaviors that lead us away from God?

For one, Jesus gives us good direction as he instructs us to first of all to pray. "Lead us not into temptation," is a part of the Lord's prayer. We're also encouraged to pray that we will not fall into temptation.

1st Corinthians 10:13 says that "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it."

And James gives us the important reminder that "when tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Pretty strong words to remind us not only that temptation is real, but that it is deadly. And, though, that God will provide a way out. See, it goes back to a fundamental question. In whom do you place your trust? In your own rationalizing? In your own exercise of power or advantage or authority in order to get or justify your desires or position?

After all, doesn't Christ teach us another way? A way of humility. A way that has us pick up our crosses. A way that trusts in the ultimate power and victory of grace and mercy. For, we can't stand under the cross of our salvation and not see the willingness of a God who would give it all in order for peace and reconciliation to be the final proclamation.

And yet, each one of us knows the horrible experience of falling into temptation. The experience stirs up feelings of guilt, of being dirty, empty, drained, and even exploited. Grieving the sin is natural and healthy before a righteous God. And, these feelings and memories can serve as reminders to guard our hearts and minds.

Should you fall, you must confess to God the brokenness and admit the sin. You must be willing to be broken, for God delights in a broken and contrite heart and will meet you at your lowest point. No pride here. No excuses. Just truth and remorse.

And then you must receive the gracious, cleansing forgiveness that Christ offers. After all, as it says in Hebrews, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Remember that we are never alone in our temptations. We have a mighty God who has the transforming power to forgive us, to change us, to satisfy our deepest needs, be our greatest defense against the enemy, protect us, keep us from temptation, and deliver us from evil. Our victory has already been won through Christ.

Amen.