I Get These…Temptations
I have recently been reading and meditating about Jesus’ temptation in the desert, so I was intrigued to hear those same verses read in church this morning. Luke 4:1-13 formed the foundation for the sermon. It was as if God was working through my pastor and the church service to help me understand the questions I’ve been pondering. What a blessing this morning’s service was for me!
As you may know, Jesus was tempted in the Desert. This is important because it is yet another proof of Jesus’ divinity. We know Jesus was divine, at least in part, because of his temptations in the desert. A mortal man could never completely resist temptation the way Jesus did—not just in the desert, but throughout the course of his life—so Jesus was clearly much more than a mortal man. His victories over sin, temptation, nature, and death all point to his divinity just as my inability to triumph over those elements in my life proves my own fundamental “hipponess.”
They say Depeche Mode’s “personal Jesus” is supposed to be a metaphor for whatever makes you happy. I suppose I’ve foiled the metaphor because my own personal Jesus is Jesus. The guy who showed us how to live all those years ago gives me strength and makes me happy today. He showed us that it is possible to inhabit a physical shell and still focus on a divine purpose. Jesus resisted Satan’s temptations, and so can we. It isn’t easy, but Jesus showed us it can be done.
- In a vast emptiness, Satan sought to satisfy Jesus’ need for sustenance. Jesus declined his aide.
- In a great wilderness, Satan sought to provide self actualization. Again, Jesus said, “no.”
- And in a barren desert, when Satan sought to make a deal, Jesus refused to exalt himself.
Through a rather keen understanding of Maslow, Satan appeals to a full spectrum of very human “needs,” but when we turn our eyes to Jesus, we often see those “needs” exposed as “wants.” And why do we want them? A big reason for so many wants in my life is the barrage of suggestions from Satan. He understands what I want and he brings that knowledge to bear on me all the time.
I drive around town and I see billboards of scantily clad people in great shape. Don’t I want to be in great shape? Don’t I want to be with a scantily clad person who is in great shape? It is hard to think about anything else when temptation is staring me in the face. And what better use could there be for my time than to focus on myself. Surely I deserve these things!
I watch television and at commercial time, they often suggest I need a new car. Don’t I want a fancy new car?! What better use for my money could there possibly be than to indulge myself? Besides, my truck has something wrong with it. It is embarrassing! When I start it, a big puff of smoke comes out of the tailpipe, and the repair place was unable to fix it. Doesn’t Jesus want me to appear prosperous?
I see so many opportunities to take the easy path, the personally gratifying lane, the self-centered approach. Every one of my temptations seems to share a common theme: Keep yourself at the center of things and keep Jesus on the periphery. But Jesus kept his eyes on the things that mattered! He did not think about himself. He thought about His Father in Heaven, and he thought about all of us. If I can follow His example, perhaps I can resist a few of the temptations Satan will place in my path.
This week, I think I’ll try something a little different: I will keep my eyes on Jesus, and I will “reach out and touch faith.”
Sincerely,
Mister Hippo
