BECOMING WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE - PART 4
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30 NKJV).
As disciples of Jesus our desire and goal (and the predestined will of God) is to become like Jesus. However, it is difficult to define what it means to “be like Jesus.” Most of the definitions I have seen have to do with different characteristics that Jesus had (love, forgiveness, peace, power, etc.) As I have studied the life of Jesus, I found that there are two characteristics that defined who Jesus was and, therefore, are what we should strive for. All other attributes flow from these two.
The first attribute, which we have been talking about, is that Jesus has a pure heart. He is sinless. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, but was without sin. This teaches us a couple of things about temptation that are important. First, temptation is not sin. Too often we, as Christians, believe that we have to be perfect and that we shouldn’t even be able to be tempted. We tend to forget that Jesus was tempted. In fact, the Gospel writers tell us that the first thing that happened with Jesus after his baptism was that he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days. At the end of that time, we are told that Satan left him “until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).
So Jesus was being tempted throughout his ministry. Even on the cross we see temptation as people yell at him that they will believe in him if he will just come down off the cross (Matthew 27:39-44). If Jesus was tempted throughout his life, we should not beat ourselves up for being tempted as well. After all, C.S. Lewis, in his book The Screwtape Letters, records a series of letters between an apprentice demon and his mentor about a person he is trying to keep from following Christ. Eventually, the man does become a Christian, and the apprentice demon is distraught that he has failed. His mentor writes back to him, that all is not necessarily lost, there is still hope, and instructs him, “If you can’t make him bad, make him proud.” So we must stay alert at all times.
The second thing we learn about temptation, is that it is not what we normally think it is. Most people I talk to portray temptation as “the opportunity to do something wrong, to blow it, to mess up, to sin, etc.” And we all know that once we do something wrong, it is easier to repeat that wrong choice or action in the future until we are no longer in control, but have become a slave to that sin until it destroys us (James 1:13-15). While this is true, it is not the complete picture.
Temptation does not only give us the opportunity to make the wrong choice, it also gives us the opportunity to make the right choice. James tells us, “Blessed is the one who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (1:12). This shows us that, not only does temptation give us the opportunity to make the right choice, but when we do make that right choice, it leads to eternal life. We just have to keep making the right choice. But how can we? After all “we’re only human,” right? Fortunately, God has a plan for us to be successful, even in the face of temptation.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but God is faithful; who will not allow you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” When (not if) tempted, God has promised a way out so that we can make the right choice. We know that God is going to be faithful in providing the way out, so what is our role in this? Take the way out that is provided. Make the right choice. When we do, we find that it is then easier to make the right choice the next time, the next time, and the next time…. Until we have established a pattern of obedience and faithfulness that results in us being presented with the “crown of life.”
So, as we continue to live our lives, remember that we will be tempted. However, rather than beating ourselves up, let’s follow Jesus’ example and trust God to continue to provide the way out so that we can make the right choice and join Jesus in eternal life.
Join me next time, as we discover the second attribute that enabled Jesus to live as he did and therefore will allow us to be like Jesus and live the lives He created us to live. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful day and God bless.
