Day 17 - The Progression of Temptation

James 1:14-16 describes the progression of temptation: Desire, Deception,Destruction and Death
I have seen these in the world around me:

Desire - Advertisements are based on it...what desires does your flesh have? Whatever it is, the desires are heightened and enticed by things that look so good and so important to have.

Deception - These are the thoughts that impregnate our desires. The world's system tells us that we are the most important thing and pleasing ourselves is the greatest pursuit. God is placed to the side because He will keep us from enjoying life, and we just need to do what we want.

Disobedience - Eventually, this leads to the birth of sin. Look in the prisons for examples of this; but every day, we decide to disobey God and His Word in every aspect of life. As you walk through a normal day in the world, you see disobedience to God all around.

Death - People die every day because of their own sin or someone else's. There are major consequences, experienced by the guilty and innocent, from disobeying God's commands.

The connection between all of these is that it has to do with our sinful nature that lives within us; and except for the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God, we are doomed to repeat this cycle daily until the final consequence of physical death arrives.

The story of King David (II Samuel 11,12) demonstrates this progression:
Desire - When David should have been out with his army to battle, he was walking on the rooftop and noticed a beautiful woman bathing. He looked, he lusted, he allowed the fleshly desire to draw him.

Deception - He first was deceived into thinking that it was o.k. to keep looking and to let lust take over. He was deceived into thinking that it was o.k. to desire another woman, who was not his wife; and to consider having a woman who was another man's wife. Also, he was also deceived, thinking that since he was king, he deserved this and could have anything and anyone he wanted.

Disobedience - He called for one of his servants to bring this woman to him and he had sex with her. He knew what was right, but allowed his desire to rule his heart and he acted on his lust. He thought he got what he want, but it was in direct opposition to what God wanted for him.

Death - This sin brought many consequences, including actual physical death. This woman (Bathsheba) got pregnant, and David tried to hide it by having her husband (Uriah) come home to have sex with her. But, when he wouldn't (because of his loyalty to his fellow soldiers who were still fighting), David commanded that Uriah be put on the front lines so that he would die. The baby that was born to David through this sin lost his life. And moving forward, all kinds of sins and consequences followed in David's family.

Confession and Repentance: I am glad that God also included in His Word the fact, that when David was confronted with his sin, he confessed (agreed with God that He had sinned) and He repented (he did not continue in that sinful pattern). His prayer in Psalm 51 demonstrates this.

This is my prayer, as it was David's:
Psalm 139:23,24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"