Temptation

Ever been tempted?  I have plenty of times and failed to do the right thing : (

Guess I'm just a normal, weak human.   What would my life be like if I could go back and make right choices?  Did the wrong choices teach me anything?  Only God knows.

In Ron Mehl's book, Surprise Endings, temptation is described as a shortcut.  The fast track to quick results.  I agree.  We see an easy way to get what we want and are tempted to go for it.  He says that 3 strategies used against Christians by Satan are to get us to move quickly, think shallowly and to invest ourselves deeply.  He explains it like this:

Quickly:  when we move quickly we are more prone to surrender to the unbridled desires of the flesh.
Shallow thinking: don't consider the ramifications or consequesnces
Invest deeply: an action, attitude, or thought pattern becomes increasingly difficult to stop

"Temptation masquerades as better, quicker, and easier, but is in the end it is a more expensive and painful way.  Its offerings are deceptive and always second best.  From steroids to premarital sex to cheating on Wall Street, temptation looks, sounds and feels good on the surface.  But beneath its facade, the reward is short-term and the consequences are long-term."

That sure is the truth.  So many people have learned the hard way about consequences.  Jails are full, pro-athletes have lost their careers, infants are born out of wedlock, divorces are rampant because of affairs, drug addicts suffer from their own hand and morgues are full of those who have died because of temptations.  Thank God that God was always with me no matter what.  He forgives and heals us from our own sinful stupidity.  Thank God!