“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” [James 1:14]
IT ALL STARTED WHEN SOME FRIENDS CAME OVER to make grape juice in my kitchen—150 quarts of grape juice! And while the project went smoothly enough, all those bushels of freshly picked grapes and the large pots that caught their sugary nectar drew a swarm of fruit flies that eventually wafted upstairs into my study, multiplying by the hour and causing no small annoyance. I had no idea how to get rid of them!
But my friends did. Putting a chunk of banana in the bottom of a drinking glass, then inverting a paper cone over the top and sealing it with tape, they set the homemade contraption on my desk while I waited for the tiny pests to be lured in by the scent. It didn’t take long. Soon, one after another, those invading insects began descending through the tiny hole and into the glass, only to find themselves hopelessly trapped inside. The plan worked! I could hardly believe it.
While watching the capture and demise of the unwanted flies, I couldn’t help thinking of Eve—eyeing that luscious fruit, imagining how much pleasure it held for her, only to find that what she thought would bring her fulfillment actually paved the way to her coffin. I also couldn’t help thinking of myself, and how often I too have allowed myself to be drawn in to things I thought would make me happy but proved to be a snare.
What a vivid reminder of how easily we become trapped by what we think we want, and conversely, how much pain we can avoid by applying God’s grace in saying no to sin and yes to Christ. If we are in Him, we don’t have to be in bondage—we can be free. Rather than being drawn by our fleshly desires toward death, let us remember what (who) saves us and choose life.
Is your heart being lured into some enticing trap? What perceived benefits make the temptation seem irresistible? What resources has God made available to help you resist the temptation? [The Quiet Place]
