It All Looks So Good…It Can’t Really Be That Bad?

How often do you find yourself struggling with choices and decisions that your conscience is yelling out against but your own inner man intensely desires to have it? A battle ensues between a conscience that has been touched by the Word of God and an inner man that continues to struggle defiantly against the good that conscience attempts to direct it to follow.

The inner man whispers to the mind: “It all looks so good…it can’t really be that bad!” While the heart is forcefully objecting: “Stay Away!” What do you do? Who do you listen to? How do you overcome this struggle that seems to goes on and on inside?

You know what I’m talking about! You’ve been there before and maybe you are struggling right now with something in your life that your heart is telling you to run away from? You have tried and tried to overcome. Yet, the battle only gets bigger when you fight against it so you finally throw up your hands and give in. Then, you find yourself struggling with the feelings of loss, feelings of regret, feelings of defeat.

An encouraging lesson can be learned from Jesus. Hebrews 4:15 tells us: “This High Priest [Jesus] of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (NLT). Matthew 4 tells us: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil” (v. 1).

After going without food for forty days, Satan came and began to torment him with promises that looked so good in His frail condition. He offered Him the world! From a human perspective, it all looked SOOO good there’s no way it could really be bad…or could it?

What was the real motive of Satan? What were his intentions in and through these times of testing? Simply put, to bring failure…but even worse, to bring utter defeat. Your strength from the testings of Jesus comes from recognizing the responses of Jesus.

Certainly, Jesus was filled with wisdom and could’ve attempted to talk His way out. He could’ve attempted human reason. He could’ve even used His own power as the Son of God. But He didn’t! Every response came directly from the Word of God.

Jesus understood the power of the Word of God to defeat the influences of evil and deceit. He relied fully upon God’s Words to defeat the enemy and His temptations. The story ends in defeat for Satan as the Scripture records: “Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus” (v. 11). Luke 1:37 assures us: “the word of God will never fail.”

Your struggles are overcome by trusting and adhering to the promises of God found in His Word. Hebrews 2:18 tells us: “Since he himself [Jesus] has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Jesus stands ready to help us in our times of struggles, out times of trials and testings. He has been there and understands the heavy influence these can have upon our lives.

James instructs us to: “humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Peter writes a word of warning: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

James instructs us to humbly approach God as the ultimate Source of our deliverance from the evil one. Then, we are able to stand against and resist him and he will run away and leave us alone.

Peter warns us to be constantly aware of Satan’s intent to destroy us in any way he can gain access. He re-enforces the words of James by telling us to stand firm against the enemy as we stand strong trusting in God and His abilities.

While the things you are struggling with may not appear to be so bad, be so careful because appearances can be so deceptive. Paul admonishes you to: “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT).

Scripture Reading: “O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:1-5 NLT)

 

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I thank You for always being my hope and my help. I thank You that You care for me enough to direct me away from that which may appear humanly good but is deceptively bad and wrong for me. I pray You will forgive me where I have failed You and help me to follow Your Word, Your direction and Your leading. Help me to stand strong in the faith and to learn to stand against and to resist Satan and his attacks against me. I love You and praise You in all things. In Jesus’ name I pray these things…AMEN!