Overcome Temptation

When we look into what happened to the Israelites in the desert, we can find the wisdom to overcome temptations. The Israelites had suffered all kinds of hardships in Egypt for 430 years, and by the grace of God they were released from slavery in Egypt and proceeded toward the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey. As God’s chosen people, they celebrated the Passover and received the Ten Commandments—the words of the covenant—and many other decrees, laws and regulations from God. Although they were God’s chosen people who were given the covenant of God, most of them failed to reach the land of Canaan and were destroyed in the desert. It was because they did not overcome the temptations.

Today, we are also the people of the covenant and the children of promise prophesied in the Bible, and the truth given to us is absolutely perfect and unquestionable. The problem is that sometimes we fail to overcome temptation. Yielding to temptation causes us suffering and leads us down the path of destruction. Considering this fact, we should all overcome temptation.

Do not fall into temptation

God’s people need wisdom to overcome temptation. The Bible gives us the wisdom that leads to salvation. Let us learn the wisdom from the Bible.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation . . .” Mt 26:41

On the night of the Passover, when Jesus was praying so hard in the Garden of Geth- semane because of the suffering He would have to face the following day, His disciples were all asleep. So, Jesus woke them up and taught them to pray always that they would not fall into temptation, and set them the example of how to overcome temptation through prayer.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus also taught us to ask God not to lead us into temptation.

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven . . . lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Mt 6:9–13

Because of temptation, some people fall in the desert of faith, and some drop out from their faith just before entering the kingdom of heaven. When the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, there were many temptations. Just as God rained down manna for them to eat, He could give them everything they needed. However, since they did not completely trust in God the Almighty, they all gave in to temptation and grumbled against God for having no water, no food, and no meat to eat. Because of their endless and unsatisfactory desires, they fell into temptation, worshiped idols, committed adultery, grumbled against God, and put Him to the test. As a result, they were destroyed in the desert.

These things were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come (1 Co 10:1–11). In the Bible, let’s find the practical teachings God has given us in order to keep us from falling into temptation.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego overcame the temptation of idolatry

First, let us learn the faith of our ancestors who overcame the temptation of idolatry.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual . . . Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement . . . He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Da 3:19–28

King Nebuchadnezzar set up a great image of gold on the plain of Dura and summoned all his officers, and commanded them to worship the idol. They all bowed down to worship the golden image, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose to obey the word of God instead of the king’s order. They refused to worship the idol, saying that they would never bow down to the golden statue that the king had made because God, who is holy and governs life and death, commanded them not to worship idols.

Then the king was furious with them, and his attitude toward them changed. He had shown favor to the captives from Judah and put them in high positions, but they refused to obey his order. So, he was very angry and gave strict orders to throw them into the furnace that was heated seven times hotter than usual.

Even in the dangerous and scary situation where they were threatened with death, they did not waver at all. They stood firm in their faith, saying that God would rescue them from the fire and that even if He did not, they would not bow down to the idol. As they overcame the temptation, God saved them from the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was so surprised that he gave glory to God, saying, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,” and he issued a decree throughout Babylon that anyone who said anything against God be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble (Da 3:29–30).

Thus, God blesses those who overcome temptation. Through the deeds of our ancestors of faith, God teaches us the wisdom that leads to salvation.

They kept their faith firm even in the face of the life-threatening temptations. What about us? Are we not yielding to even small difficulties? When we walk the right path of faith and keep our faith firm by overcoming any temptation, all people in the world will praise our God as King Nebuchadnezzar did.

Joseph overcame the temptation of adultery

There are various kinds of temptations. Satan tries to block our way to heaven by hindering our faith toward God and making us yield to him through the temptation to worship idols and many other temptations. We must always overcome all temptations.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did . . . So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “. . . My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” Ge 39:1–23

Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, was sold to Potiphar as a slave in his house. When his mistress tempted him, he did not commit adultery with her. As he refused her request, he was falsely accused and even thrown into prison. However, God saw the righteousness in his heart and was always with him, and later on he rose to the position of governor of all Egypt.

Those who overcome temptation receive such great blessings. We should not forget that God delivers those who are godly and faithful out of temptations and bestows blessings on them. Sometimes we may face a situation that makes us feel unfairly treated and abandoned by God. In the end, however, it brings us blessings.

Temptation is one of the main factors that hinder us from standing firm in faith till the end. If Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had given in to the temptation of idolatry, would they have been saved although they were Jews and God’s chosen people? They would have lost their right of being Jews and God’s people if they had bowed down to the idol, wouldn’t they?

Likewise, Joseph would have been branded as an evildoer forever if he had not overcome the temptation of his mistress. However, he always lived a godly life according to God’s teachings. So, although he was falsely accused and put in prison temporarily, God changed the situation for him and he became second in power to Pharaoh and ruled over all the land of Egypt. Joseph lived such an eventful life, which was all in accordance with God’s plan and providence. He was hated by his brothers and sold as a slave in Egypt, where he faced all kinds of hardships and temptations. However, since he overcame them all, he became the governor of Egypt, and when there was a severe famine in the land of Canaan, he helped bring his family to Egypt so that they could escape the famine. God had planned it all in advance.

Jesus overcame the temptation on the cross

When we face temptation, we should have the discernment to distinguish which path is right, as did Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Although we may suffer in the process, we must not compromise with injustice to avoid suffering. No matter what difficulties we face, we should walk the right path according to God’s decrees, laws and regulations.

Jesus finished His ministry on earth by enduring and overcoming the greatest temptation.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1–3

The cross was a kind of temptation that brought forth tremendous suffering. When we consider that Jesus said, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me,” we can imagine how great the pain of the cross must have been.

Jesus overcame the temptation on the cross, and received the glory of sitting on the right hand of God’s throne. Jesus knew that He would suffer extreme shame, insult and pain, but He did not choose to avoid them. He was willing to walk the path of suffering to become a sin offering for us, so He could fulfill the glorious work of salvation.

We, too, face temptations while walking the journey of faith. When temptation comes, we are troubled and distressed. The temptation Jesus experienced on the cross, as well as the temptation Joseph encountered and the temptation Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced, was very painful. So, all temptations are painful. However, if we endure all the pain and suffering and walk the right path which God has taught us, we will receive great blessings waiting for us. When you face temptation, do not just try to avoid it but find God’s will in it and always overcome temptation.

Blessed are those who overcome temptation

Temptations occurred not only during the 40-year desert journey, but in all periods. Even now there are so many temptations that God’s people may fall into. Through the Bible, God teaches us how to overcome temptations and what blessings accompany us when we overcome them.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Jas 1:12

If we endure and overcome trials and temptations, we will receive the crown of life; all the blessings and glory that God has prepared for us will be given to us.

When a trial comes our way, we should not focus on the trial itself, but think about what God’s will is and obey the teachings and commands of God. So, the Bible says that blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, and that when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.

. . . the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority . . . 2 Pe 2:9–12

To receive God’s help in times of trial, we should live the godly life of faith. God rescues godly men from trials, but holds the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

Although the Israelites were God’s chosen people, most of them were destroyed during their 40-year journey in the desert. It was because they did not overcome the trials and temptations. Now we dwell in the truth of the new covenant and believe in God, and we are in the glorious position of being the chosen people of God and the rest of the woman’s offspring. However, it is all meaningless if we fall into temptation and forsake all our blessings like Esau. Temptation is to make someone have the same mindset as Esau. When we fall into temptation, our birthright seems meaningless to us, and the blessings of the heavenly royal priesthood and even the covenant of God seem insignificant, and our promises to God come to nothing in a moment. This is what we should watch out for. So, Jesus always told His disciples in the truth, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation,” “Pray that you will not fall into temptation,” and He also said, “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

I want you all to live holy and godly lives according to the will of God as Christ has taught us. Do not forget that you are living under God’s blessings, and give glory and thanks to God all the more. I earnestly ask all you children of God never to fall into temptation but to overcome it by putting God’s word in your heart and please Heavenly Father and Mother greatly by holding fast to the blessings of heaven till the end.