Temptations | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1856

Temptations.

CONVERSION to God is not without a struggle; nay, not without many struggles. He who turns his back upon sin and selfishness; he who strives to resist temptations, temptations which come upon him like an armed man, must fight for the victory. If it were only one grand struggle, which when ended, the fight was over and the victory accomplished, then there would be far more Christians in the world, and far better Christians. But the fact is, when the great struggle of conversion is over, the difficulties just begin; temptations then are like the continual dripping of water. We resist one, which is no sooner resisted, than behold another is seeking admittance. We prepare ourselves for one, which we shall certainly by God's help overcome; when lo! one that we did not expect comes, and we yield. And thus it is, not for once or twice; nor for a month or year; but every day we are tempted, and every day we must resist.

The little temptations, we very much fear, are the worst. Temptations to impatience, to forgetfulness, to anger, to vanity, to pride; and that too by the most trifling matters in the world. And we yield to these little things. And then we become discouraged and think there is no necessity for striving. “It is of no use. We try every day to resist the quick word, the impatient feeling, the angry thought, but we fail.”

But shall we allow the devil to tempt us to give up? This were then, not a little, but a great temptation; yea! a mighty temptation. It is no less a thing than yielding to him. And he who commences by yielding one thing to Satan, the traitor who commences by yielding up the outposts to the enemy, will end by giving up the citadel itself. No! we must remember the terms of our enlistment on Christ's side.

“To continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto our life's end,” were the words in which our enlistment was effected. Are we going to stand up to this; or prove cowards and traitors, and yield? We must expect temptations; they will come to us every day we live. There will not be one single day in which we shall be able to say, This day I have not been tempted to do any thing wrong, or leave undone any thing right. Our temptations may be very different. One is tempted to one thing, another to another. The young to giddiness and thoughtlessness. The old to covetousness and hardness. The middle-aged to worldliness and ambition. Temptations differ, but they are all gilded. They seldom alarm. The devil is wary as well as active. Resist him and his temptations. Pray God's forgiveness for past yielding. Strive to overcome in future. But do your best, and still you will yield sometimes. Therefore be humble and prayerful. God will help us; this we know. In Christ's power and faithfulness lies our strength. In this we will put our trust.

[Southern Churchman.