Articles
Destined for Failure or Success?
In a recent conversation with a Christian brother regarding sexual temptation, he commented that the world has set us up for failure. I understand and appreciate precisely what he meant: that the daily barrage of sexual images we see in life and in the media, the shameless immodesty, and the stampede of immoral ideas celebrated by our culture can easily wear down our defenses and cause us to feel we are just destined to fail. We feel helpless against lust, sometimes even trapped in a vicious cycle of shame and weakness brought on by our own mistakes. I understand.
Let’s look at this from a different angle, though. While it is true that Satan is actively pursuing us, as he was Jesus (1 Peter 5:8), it is not true that we are destined for failure. Satan wishes us to think so, because with that kind of thinking we will more easily succumb to his traps (applicable to any kind of temptation, not just sexual immorality). Certainly, we must not underestimate the deceptive power of the devil, but we must also remember that God’s ability to deliver and overcome is unmatched, even by Satan himself.
“God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
“Pray, then, in this way…Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:9, 13).
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11).
Did you see the common theme of these passages? Each of them acknowledges the power of temptation to destroy, but reminds us that our strength to resist temptation is found in God’s power to save. We seek the escape because we know He will always provide it; we pray for deliverance because we trust He will be there; we arm ourselves for battle because we believe God empowers us to stand firm. At times it may seem that the world has set us up for failure. Quite the contrary: God has set us up for success.
None of this means we will be perfectly sinless or untouched by temptation. Scripture is clear: as long as we live, we will suffer temptation and struggle against the “old self” (Eph. 4:22-24). Instead, this means that even when we do fall, sin does not have to destroy us. There is forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2); there is strength to flee immorality and pursue righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22); all of this is found in a God who believes in us to succeed!
“What the shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who dies, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as shee to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:31-37).
