As I look at the title of this blog, it strikes me as a little odd. Is that really what I meant to type? Shouldn’t it be Triumph Over Temptation? Triumph Instead of Temptation? Or better still, how about just Triumph!…? No, it is what it is, like it or not; Triumph Through Temptation.

Still not sure about this? Me either, but stick with me awhile…

We’re soon wrapping up Chapter 13 of The Bridge from OneDayBow, with Tim now out of the muck of pride but questioning why temptations need to be at all. (If this is sounding a little unfamiliar, better take a few minutes to look at Chapter 13. If you don’t have it on hand, you can read Parts One and Two of The Bridge from OneDayBow – for free! – at onedaybow.com.)

Having been rescued by the Son from the murky mire, Tim wisely chose humility. He didn’t even blame the tempters for his plunge into the pit but recognized that it was his own pride that sank him.  “The pride rose up so easy, it had to be put down.” What did Tim mean by that? We’ll come back to that question shortly.

While Tim admitted his own error, he goes on to ask the 10-million-dollar question. Let’s listen in on the conversation he has with the Son:

“Though I do admit my wrong, I still don’t understand

How come all these tempters are permitted in Your land.

Why do they come to tempt me? What purpose can they serve?

Seems to me, their presence here is perfectly absurd.”

Zoom back from Tim for a minute. Have you ever wondered that? Me too! Okay, back to Tim and the Son…

After Tim expresses more of his frustration and confusion at the presence and provocation of the enemy force while in the King’s land, the Son responds in a way that may surprise you.

The Son smiled for a moment, and then He stood there still.

“You’ve asked some honest questions regarding My Father’s will.

If the King is ruling over all that you can see,

It must seem strange in His land that tempters seem quite free.

“But the way that it may seem is not the way it is.

The King decides what He permits: the final word is His.

Despite what the tempters try they can’t thwart what I’ve done.

Their schemes turn against them when you choose to trust the Son.”

So it really is Triumph Through Temptation! The presence of the tempters really does seem absurd – unless they can ultimately serve a good purpose for those in His Kingdom! But what good purpose? Let’s check back in with the Son:

“You’ll find it’s often easy to go off your own way,

Forgetting that you need Me through each and every day.

If your path is simple and completely trouble-free,

How long will it take till you try to walk without Me?”

Hmm. What do I think about that? I’d like to say, give me the easy path and it will be easier to follow! Right? Trouble free is good for me! Or is it? I want it to be, but the truth is that I need to be reminded that I’m helpless in my own strength to live this spiritual life that God has called me to. Like Tim in the book, I must ask myself the question:

“Temptations all around me prove that I’m prone to fall.

Is the purpose so I’ll trust the King’s Son above all?

In Jesus, every child of God is saved and sanctified. We have the Holy Spirit, a sealed guarantee of God’s promised redemption. (If you’re not sure what all that means we’ll be covering that again next time.) Still, the tempters scheme to defeat us. Our God has equipped us to stand, but we can only stand fast because of what the Lord Jesus has done on our behalf. If you/I/we trust in our own strength, the conflict won’t be won. Why? Because we can’t stand against temptation while pridefully trusting in our own strength! We need Jesus’ powerful work in us to triumph through temptation.  We are reminded of our need, and His strength, and that is a good place to be.

And that is what the equipment is about! Relying on the provision, protection and perfection of God!   More on that next time. Don’t miss it!