I’ve had a lot of good feedback from the sermon series on temptation.  I’m sure the reason some have found it helpful is because temptation is a big, regular problem for all of us.  In fact, it’s an everyday problem.  It’s a problem I hope to prevail over more and more, as you apparently do.  Let me help a little further. 

             There are three things these three messages have in common with regard to handling temptation.  All three messages asserted that:

1.  Handling it early is always better than handling it late.  This means somewhere around the starting line rather than up into the process.
2. Foundational work is better than reaction to a temptation knocking at the door of your life.
3. A changed nature is the only way you’re going to win over temptation consistently and this requires spiritual discipline.

 Let me go over each of these three battle strategies with you.

1.  Early is always better than late.  When you wait until temptation is breathing down your neck, there’s a good chance you’ve already lost.  A friend of mine who had an addiction problem was telling me that all addicts find great relief in making the decision to go ahead and yield to their addiction.   In fact, they feel about as good when they make the decision to go ahead as they do when they actually roll the dice, take the drink, or practice whatever addiction they have.

 Many of us believe we are free enough and powerful enough to be able to decide to get out of a situation whenever we want to.  But all three of the Scripture passages we looked at asserted that there is a point at which you can make the decision “yes” or “no,” but that opportunity doesn’t last for long.  Once you reach the point of no return, guess what?  You’re unlikely to return.  Can God do something once you’ve passed that point?  Yes, He certainly can and He will help you, but the results won’t be the same as if you have dealt with the temptation early rather than late and walk away.  Get away from it.  Turn to God.  Talk to a friend.  Develop some accountability for yourself, but do it when you first begin to have the feeling or think about it. 

 (I will conclude this in my next blog.)

        It looked like nobody could tame Tiger Woods just like it looked like nobody could tame Michael Jordan.  It was said that the only person who could hold Michael Jordan’s score under 30 points was Dean Smith (his very conservative coach at UNC).  Apparently, the only person who could keep Tiger from being remembered as the greatest golfer ever to live is Tiger himself.  Count me as badly disappointed – make that disgusted. 

             I have said since he burst onto the scene that my greatest admiration for him was not how far he could hit a golf ball, how well he could recover from a bad shot, or how he could putt under pressure, as impressive as all that was.  It was how he handled himself as a young man with unlimited money, unlimited success, and unlimited amounts of admiration.  Now it turns out that was a fake.  It is certainly symptomatic of our culture where people believe they can do what they want as long as they don’t get caught. 

             The question for all of us is will we say to ourselves, “It doesn’t matter”?  Will we join all of these weak-spined, moral nobodies in saying, “People just can’t help it”?  It’s just like eating and breathing – I just have to do it.  Or will we be people who will say, “We live for God and believe God’s will for us is more important than the satisfaction of personal urges”?  If this is harsh, so be it.  We are in a hole and digging it deeper.  The problem really is NOT Tiger Woods.  It is the culture in which he lives – our culture. 

             In my next blog, I plan to write about the ups and downs of the morality of culture.  But let me say right now the moral fiber of our culture is weakening steadily.  I’m afraid things will have to get a lot worse before we finally decide enough of state-sponsored gambling that takes advantage of the poor, enough talk about legalizing drugs, and enough talk that divorce doesn’t matter or people can’t help it.  Count me as one who is fed up.

A few weeks ago, I spoke of fear of the Lord (See Fearless Sermon Series).  I made brief mention that parents should not use God as the heavy club in the discipline of children.  It is a wonderful thing to teach your children to honor God and even to fear God, but it has been delegated to you to discipline your children.  So don’t try to delegate that back up to God by saying things to your children such as, “God is not happy with you” or “God sees what you’re doing” or “God is going to get you in ways you cannot imagine.”  Simply take the authority of disapproval yourself by saying, “I don’t like that,” or “I told you to do that.”  Take the responsibility yourself for confronting your child rather than “playing the God card.”  Later on when it does not involve a present problem, talk with your children about God’s will for them. Teach them that you love God’s will and they can too.

             When you make God out to be a nitpicker or one who doesn’t ever cut us any slack, you really paint a God who is different than God’s revelation of Himself.  Let’s be sure to be honest with our children about the grace, love, kindness, and mercy of God while at the same time holding up the holy and righteous standards of God for life.  I hope as you raise your children to fear the Lord, it’s the beginning of wisdom, and they will NEVER be wise unless they do.  But make sure they are confident that the Lord they fear is full of love and mercy for them.