In my list of resolutions every year is to take up the sport of running again. Running keeps me motivated to lose weight and to keep myself healthy. A few weeks ago, I dusted off my treadmill and started to run again. I am doing ok so far; I am starting to get in the zone of running a few miles during the week. I am also trying to eat healthy and to eat less desserts. Three days ago, I was driving at night on Beltline Road and the sign of Krispy Kreme caught my eye. The sign was glowing, and I said this phrase outloud “Why Krispy Kreme, Why?” My daughters who were in the vehicle with me asked me what has happened? Why did I say that? I was quick to explain to them that when I see the sign light up like that, it makes want to eat some hot donuts. The phrase I have always heard about Krispy Kreme is “When Krispy Kreme’s hot light is on, glazed donuts are sure to be waiting for you.”
I was strong in my resolution that night and I did not stop to get me some hot donuts. As a matter of fact, I may choose to drive from now on a different route next time I go home. so, I will not encounter that sign again. I know my resolution is tested when I see a good dessert, so I have to make the proper changes so I will not fall into temptation.
In the same way, the Bible warns of the danger of falling into temptation. In the model prayer, Jesus said that we are to pray like this: “Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:13). In the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was betrayed, Jesus warned His disciples: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41).
In our daily lives, we must make every effort to “not let sin to have dominion over us” and to “not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin” (Rom 6:14, 12-13). Sin remains a problem in our lives. The Bible exhorts us: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1b). We still need to be aware of the danger of sin. We need to make the effort to “Lay aside the weight of sin” which the Bible warned “so easily entraps us” so that we may stumble and not complete the race of keeping our faith until the end (2 Tim 4:7-8)
Our heavenly Father has promised deliverance, but we must make the effort to bear with or resist such temptation and look to God for the way of escape: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10:12-13; James 4:7)
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