TEMPTATION!
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"If it wasn't for temptation," said a young convert, speaking to one who had been many years trying to walk in the narrow way, "I could get along very well. But the enemy is always taking me at unawares. I start out in the morning, resolved that my walk and conversation shall, in all things, adorn my profession; but before I am half through the day, temptations assails me, and I fall!"
"I trust not, my young brother," was the gravely spoken reply. "To fall in temptation is a most dreadful thing. Every Christian man falls into temptations. Without them, we could not know the evil qualities of our hearts, nor be able to rise above them into the life of good affections. "Count it all joy," says the Apostle James, "when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience." And again, he says: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation."
It is by means of temptations, that spiritual life is formed; and through the conflicts that temptations bring, that this life gains manly vigor. It is not temptation that harms us, butfalling in temptation — not the conflict, but the loss in battle. We must conquer, if we would have peace and rest. Can you not see that, my brother?"
"I see it," was answered in a troubled voice. "But your words form themselves into sentences of condemnation. Alas! I fall in every temptation."
"Do not hastily write bitter things against yourself," was the encouraging response to this. "Perhaps it is not so bad. If you will confide to me a day's experience, perhaps I can give you some aid, and some encouragement."
"Most gladly; for I am in need of help. This morning, before I left my room, I prayed most fervently that I might be kept stainless through the day — that a guard might be set upon my lips, and that all my actions might do honor to His name. Conscious of my own weakness, I wished to depend on Him solely; and so prayed, that He would substitute His strength for my weakness. Thus armed, as I thought, I went forth; but, before the first hour had passed, I fell. A sudden assault upon my feelings was repelled by sharp words, instead of a meek reply; and so I dishonored my Lord."
"Will you state the occasion?"
"It happened in this way. I was attending upon a customer who was faultfinding and troublesome. She annoyed me greatly by some of her remarks. At last she called my word in question, which threw me off my guard, and extorted an angry response. Of course, she got angry in return, and left the store. It made me unhappy for the day.
Next, I was betrayed into light and trifling conversation; and next, so far forgot myself, as so indulge in evil speaking and uncharitableness.
Then I discovered that my thoughts were running on worldly and forbidden things; and once, I actually caught myself working out a secret scheme for overreaching in trade. I was so shocked at this, that I felt almost like abandoning my Christian profession. Isn't it dreadful to think of? I believed that my heart changed; but now am sorely afraid that I amworse — instead of better. Oh, these temptations! Why is it that we are subjected to them?"
"It is by temptation that our evils are revealed to us," was mildly answered. "Now, as I regard your experience during the day, I think you have reason to be thankful for the occurrences which have shown you that there are things in your heart which must he removed before you can advance in the Christian life."
"But, I fell in temptation," said the young man, in a troubled tone of voice.
"I am not so sure of that. Temptation is an allurement to sin — and sin is some violation of God's law; and we fall in temptation, when the right and the wrong are both clearly presented to our minds, and in freedom to do the right or the wrong, we do the wrong, because our natural affections love it. Now, let us try your actions today by this rule. First, as to the angry words to a troublesome customer. Would you have said them, if you had taken time for reflection?"
"No. I was pained the moment I gave them utterance."
"Enough; the pain showed the spiritual vitality. If you had felt pleased at having wounded or annoyed the person, the case would have been different; and if you have resolved to be still more guarded in future, the lapse on this occasion is only a stepping-stone, as it were, to better conditions of mind. Both you and the lady, it strikes me, will gain something by the incident. And let me help you to look a little deeper. Which gave you most pain, a consciousness of having wronged the lady, or of appearing unmanly in her eyes? — of having sinned before God, or of having disgraced yourself before men? Get at the truth, if possible."
The young convert turned his thoughts inwards, in close self-examination.
"You have helped me to look deeper" — he lifted a pair of sober looking eyes to the face of his friend — "but I do not like what I see."
"Why?"
"It was not the sin that really troubled me. I thought more of man's estimate than God's."
"Which was wrong."
"Oh, yes."
"So much really gained by this loss of temper. Can't you see that the trial was for your good, and the fall, in a sudden assault, before you had time to buckle on your armor, permitted — in order that you might be enabled to see deeper into your heart. You are on your feet again, and stronger than before.
"The next thing complained of, is light and trifling conversation; and the next, evil speaking; then your thoughts ran on worldly and forbidden things. Now, as to the light and trifling conversation, I have only to say, that religion does not bind a man to solemn speech at all times, and in all places. Pleasant words are not evil, unless they involve some sinfulthing, as what is obscene, wicked, or profane — then they have a soul-destroying quality. Bring your conversation to this test always.
As to the evil speaking, and pondering on forbidden things, they are to be repented of. If the discovery has pained you, that is another advance in the right direction. But, the most serious discovery you have made during the day, is the fact, that dishonesty lurks in your heart. Here was a real temptation, but, thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, you were able to meet the enemy of your soul on the very threshold, and hurl him back with more than a giant's strength. Now, think for a moment, my young friend, and then say whether the experiences a little while ago complained of so bitterly, are not really a day's stepping-stone towards Heaven? Are you not wiser, and stronger than when the morning dawned? Is not the way plainer?
"Temptations help us onwards, if we but overcome in them; because they are revelations of our evil qualities, the existence of which we could not know without them. But if in the strife we fall — then we grow worse instead of better; then our steps lead downwards instead of upwards. Your morning prayer, to be kept from evil during the day, is well; but do not let the utterance of this prayer lead you to neglect watchfulness for a single moment. Prayer will not weaken your enemies, but render them, it may be, more determined and malignant. Watch through all the succeeding hours of the day, and keep your armor tightly girded. Be ready for sudden assault, or stealthy inroad; and then, as a true Christian warrior, you shall come off victorious."
"Thanks! thanks!" was the earnest reply. "You have helped me wonderfully. I see clearer, and feel both strength and encouragement. I have not really fallen in temptation, but am stronger for the brief conflicts."
"These," said the more experienced Christian soldier, "are but light skirmishings before the shock of battle. Your real temptations are in the future; but you will not be admitted to these, until you have overcome the outposts and vanguards of the enemy. Then will come the fiercer struggles and wilder conflicts of the strong man. Now you have only thechild's strength, and none but feebler foes are allowed to approach; but as you grow up towards the full stature of a Christian hero, the strongest and most malignant enemies of your soul will array themselves, and then you must conquer. Fear not; for divine courage and divine skill will be yours, if you go bravely into the fight; and when you have conquered, there will be rest and peace. Count it all joy, therefore, when you have divers temptations; for they are the trials of your faith, and the means by which you are enabled to put off the old man of sin, and to put on the likeness of the new man, Christ Jesus our Lord."
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