Tempted by the Good Things

Deut 26: 1-11
Luke 4:1-13

Temptation exists everywhere we turn. There is not a day that goes by that we are not tempted by something or someone. Sometimes it is the same temptation offered to us over and over again, and sometimes we are tempted by many different things. Inside each of us we have a selfish person that wants to do whatever we want whenever we want. Inside each of us is the Spirit of God that whispers of things more grand than what we temporarily desire. Having both inside of ourselves creates confusion and confliction.

We are essentially good people. We want to help others and be good examples to our children, grandchildren, friends, and community. We desire to follow Christ in all ways and to make a positive difference in the world. It’s one of the reasons we come to church and join the various activities the community offers us. However, there is a kernel of sin that exists in each of us as well. There is a darkness that if we do not keep a tight rein on it, will become a tree of temptations that make being a good person very hard.

Not too long ago, I asked the Confirmation class what makes our God different from every other god that has been worshipped throughout time. One of them said Jesus. Another said and Jesus is God. I asked them why that mattered and they responded, “Because Jesus is God and Jesus is human, he understands how we feel and understands how God feels.” I won’t lie; I got shivers down my spine when I heard that. They understand what is so important about our Christian faith. Jesus is not just the Son of God who has saved us from our sins by offering himself on a cross. Jesus is the Great Mediator. Jesus is the one that understands both sides, the human and the divine, and he helps each side to see what the other is trying to tell them.

What an amazing gift God has given to us. In Luke, Jesus is baptized by John and then immediately goes into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He is not tempted to do bad things; he is tempted to do good things. Have you ever noticed that before? The devil knows that Jesus is a good person and so he cannot tempt him by asking him to do mean things or extremely selfish acts. No, the way that the devil tries to get his hold on Jesus is by tempting him with the very things that Jesus wants most for the world. It is the WAY they would be done that is wrong; it is not the end result that is the sin. It is the means.

Jesus is in the wilderness for forty days without food or water. The devil comes to him at one of his weakest moment as a human being and says, “Since you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus has unspeakable power; he could turn that stone into bread. The unspoken message the devil is trying to get through to Jesus is that if he does this now, then all the stones that litter Israel could be turned into bread to feed the hungry. Jesus has the power to end famine right here and now. “Tap into the power of God and right this wrong that exists; prove you are God’s Son to the world.” whispers the devil.

The second temptation is the devil reminding Jesus of the awful regimes that are in power across the world - the dictators and the fascists that commit horrific atrocities and keep the people from true freedom. The devil tells Jesus that he has the power to give Jesus every kingdom in the world so that he can be their benevolent ruler. Jesus can make happen what he has come to earth to do; to bring peace and justice to the world, and to show everyone God’s love. “Take the easy way, you can avoid the pain and suffering; you can avoid that painful death on the cross if only you do it my way and bow down to me now. Say the word, and the world is yours.” whispers the devil.

The third temptation goes to the very heart of Jesus’ fears as a human, and ours as well. Jesus knows what he is about to sacrifice for the world to bring about God’s plan to save us all. He is offering up everything he has and trusting God with every iota of his being. However, there are always little doubts that creep in. Will God fulfill his promises? ALL of his promises made to Jesus? Will this all be for nothing or will God stand beside him the whole way through this terrible journey? “Throw yourself from the temple and watch the angels come to your aid so that not even your foot will strike a stone.” Will God protect him? Will God stay with him? Will he fall to the ground, broken and dying or will the angels lift him high for all to see that he is truly the Christ? “Test God, make sure God tells you the truth. You are about to sacrifice everything for Him, make sure God is willing to fulfill what He has promised.” whispers the devil.

As you can see, the devil is wily. He knows his audience. He knows that he cannot get Jesus with offering him money and power, but instead, he must look at what Jesus desires most to do – to fulfill God’s plans for the world and to help humanity become one with God. Our temptations are often like this. There is the poor young man who grew up with barely enough food to eat and only hand me down rags to wear. When he is an adult with his own family, he struggles against the temptation to cheat on his taxes and to skim money out of the till so that his children will have a better life than he did. There is the woman who was abused as a child and so as an adult she refuses to love anyone and make a commitment of any sort, often hurting the ones that care about her most. There is the man who feels like his life is out of control at home, and so he turns to his work and volunteer activities to find comfort and stability. He wants to help others and make sense of what has happened to him, but gets so caught up in avoiding what has hurt him that he alienates the very people he’s trying to help.

Your deepest wants and desires, even though they are rooted in good intentions, are often the breeding ground for sin and temptation. Yes, we can all be tempted to eat an extra piece of cake for dessert or to say a cuss word when we’re angry. However, the place where we truly get off track and lose sight of God is often when we allow our best and most noble intentions to be corrupted by the way we try to make them happen.

Jesus wanted everything the devil was tempting him with. He wanted them desperately. But Jesus knew that how we go about things is just as important as achieving them. The only way he could see that what the devil offered was not the right way was because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The only way for us to make sure we achieve our dreams and desires in the right way is to do it according to God’s will. The only way to know God’s will is to let go of what we think is so important and instead begin praying for God to show us what is really vital to our life.

Jesus fed the hungry throughout his ministry. Jesus healed the sick and maimed and even raised the dead. Jesus changed the governments and kingdoms of the world forever through his death and resurrection. Christianity swept through the early world and the disciples followed Jesus’ example and constantly preached justice and peace as he had done while on earth. Jesus had all of his doubts removed as he continued to follow God’s will and never once did God leave him. He went to the cross, confident in God’s love in the face of the world’s hatred, and triumphed over the devil and all those who had tried to treat him as a mere man instead of God’s Son.

God knows what you desire most. God knows your darkest fears. We cannot hide from the One who created us and breathed life into us. Trust that God has a plan. Trust that even as dark and painful as life can get that this is not the end for you and those you love. There is more to life than pain. There is more to life than these temptations the devil would offer us. Focus on Christ and let your pride, ego, and wants fade away. What Jesus knew and what you will discover too is that when we let go of what we desire most, that is when God steps in to help us. God will not force you to do it Jesus’ way. You have to choose Jesus, and through your choice your temptations will no longer hold any power over you.

Amen.