Returning to my series on the temptations of Christ I am today going to examine the last one which Jesus encountered.
According to scripture, “the devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their glory.”
He promised Jesus He would give him all of this if Jesus would just bow down and worship him.
There could have been all kinds of rationalizations for Jesus to do this.
Number 1. If he did this then the world would be a better place right?
Number 2. It was in His destiny to be king over all of this anyway, why not claim it at this time and save a lot of suffering and hardship for everyone?
Jesus held firm in His worship of God. He banished the devil from His presence and declared that He would worship only God.
One of the common misconceptions that is prevalent in society today is that you can attain the blessing of God through the path of sin. This is the weapon that the devil was using to lure Jesus and he continues to use this method of deception.
People are living together without being married. Premarital sex is expected in dating. Men are consumed with lust through watching pornography, forgetting that love is to be involved in sex. Children are viciously abused under the mask of “Christian discipline.” Children and babies are molested for sexual purposes.
Then we wonder where God is when the storms rage? Why is He not listening to our prayers? Why have the blessings not manifested in our lives?
We must flee from the devil and draw near to God as Jesus did, spurning the devils’ deception and lies.
There are few moral absolutes anymore.
The one moral absolute that supersedes all is that God’s Word is the truth and the light.
If you want to walk the path of blessings you must abandon the way of sin.
My dearest Gracie,
I must disagree with you on some points. Jesus was not tempted by the Devil, he already owned the Kingdom. He was there at the creation before the Devil even came into existence.
And your last sentence that we must abandon sin to walk in the way of blessings is not possible. We as human beings sin all day, if not by action then just by thought. He told us to first seek the Kingdom of God, and then all these things would be given to you. He knew we could not be perfect and free from sin so he just said look for Me, and I will be there for you. Like the song says, ” His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me”
This discussion can be much more in depth than I am willing to go into right now.
Thank you for your comment. It gives much wisdom for contemplation. Thanks!