But You Are Not Like That

Sleep did not come easy. I awoke in the middle of the night and could not fall back to sleep. This scenario has happened often in my life and it used to lead me into a lot of sin. After all, it’s the perfect hunting ground for the enemy: he gets me tired, alone, and in the darkness. Temptation would quickly come scratching at my mind. You see, becoming a follower of Christ does not stop temptations from ever coming. In fact, Scripture confirms that we will indeed be tempted in this life.

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

We will face temptations in this life, but we can be assured that God will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand and He will show us a way out. Let me tell you about a time when God showed me the way out of a moment of temptation. I was up in the middle of the night because I was feeling cold and I knew if I was cold, my wife was certainly cold. I got some extra blankets for the bed and then went to check on the children. By the time I had done all of that, my mind was fully awake. I went downstairs to watch a movie with the hopes of falling asleep to it. By 3 a.m. I had finished two movies and the pull of temptation had begun—an annoying scratching at the back of my mind, reminding me of all the ways I could find visual material that is sinful and unclean. I put my phone beside me and prayed, Father, I’m feeling tempted and I don’t know what I need to do to avoid it. Instantly, the verse of the day popped up on my phone:

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

In a moment when my sinful nature was tempting me to go back to giving into my sinful desires, God reminded me: “But you are not like that.” I read those first six words of the verse probably ten times before I continued on. “You are a chosen people. Royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” What a reminder: I belong to God, not myself!

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I can’t do what my sinful nature wants me to do, because I don’t belong to myself! “…for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” I no longer live in that darkness of sin and shame and giving into whatever desire comes my way. I have been called out of the darkness and into God’s wonderful light. 

“‘…so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:18)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:5)

I did not overcome this temptation by any power of my own. In obedience, I turned to God and asked for the way out, faithfully knowing that He provides the way out of temptation. By the Holy Spirit, through faith, I reached out and God sent His perfect Word to me. I found help and grace when I needed it (Hebrews 4:16). God does this on a (sometimes) daily basis for me, and I pray you experience it, too. We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Acts 1:8) and the sword of the Lord at our disposal; we would do well to use them when the enemy attacks. When the temptations come, speak out through the power of the Holy Spirit; reach out and God will not remain silent; He is faithful and true to all of His promises, and He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.