Temptation: Part of a Balanced Breakfast?

Playwright Oscar Wilde (who was ruined by incidents of sexual misconduct in the late 1800’s) is famous for his quote on the subject, “ I have learned to master everything in life,” he said, “except temptation.”

We are tempted when we desire to go after something that promises to make us happier, or promises us pleasure of some kind, or promises us ease… but this is usually accompanied by the promises that it won’t cost us something, or that we won’t get caught.

People try to find all kinds of ways to deal with temptation. Nearly 100 years ago in America there were many doctors that argued from science that our behavior is the direct result of the things we eat. They reasoned that in order to curb the sexual temptations of youth, a scientifically formulated diet was the answer. Their quest was to unearth these formulas and create the perfect foods to combat the rising tide of sexual temptations in young people in their generation. They made hospitals and sanitariums where people could go, and try to beat their addictions through diet and exercise; they experimented with various foods and beverages. One such doctor – a staunch vegetarian taught people that be eating mainly whole grain breads, this would help keep them away from sexual temptations… His name was Samuel C. Graham. We still eat a cracker that bears his name. One doctor, a follower of Graham in Dansville, New York believed he had achieved the perfect formula of vitamins and minerals to do this. He called it “granula,” later changed to “Granola,” he also was responsible for a variety of other such remedies like, “corn flakes,” and one interesting food that they said was “like eating the bristles from a broom” - they called it “shredded wheat.” His name was John Harvey Kellogg. One of Kellogg’s “Wellness Sanitarium” patients believed that he had formulated a beverage as a coffee substitute that would achieve the same temptation beating results. His whole-grain remedies would be called “post-toasties” and “grape nuts”… His name was C.W. Post.

Today, Americans eat 2.7 billion boxes of cereal each year… containing enough sugar for every American to be coated with three pounds each…vitamins and minerals enough to reach the moon and back every year but, today we are consumed by temptation on every front… Internet pornography is experienced by 70% of all men on the internet at least once a month. I was recently surprised by the report by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2003 saying “the internet was a significant factor in 2 out of every 3 divorces in America.” Now, I know what you are thinking… it is always about someone else, but if you think you or the men in your households are immune, you may want to think again… A year 2000 Christianity today poll gave the startling statistic that one of every three ministers admitted to having intentionally visited a pornographic website. I could go on, but I think the point is made…We are loosing the battle.

No, the battles are not won and lost at the breakfast table, or at any other external front -Temptation begins in the heart. In Matthew 15:10 Jesus said “it is not what goes into the body that defiles a man, but what comes out of the body.” James 1:13-15 tells us that our own desires “drag us away” and when “desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.”

The Bible teaches us that the only cure for temptation is an encounter with Jesus that we call “Salvation”, implicit is our initial act of “repentance” or an initial turning away from sin. This is the work of Justification, where a stone-cold, dead sinner experiences the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and is made whole and clean positionally before a righteous Judge in Heaven. Strength is then gained by acts of resistance through the power of the indwelling Spirit… the more we resist, the more strength is gained; this is the ongoing work of Sanctification. Where I was made free from the penalty of sin, now I am winning victory over the power of sin. Looking forward to the day when I shall achieve total and unconditional victory over sin, this is called glorification – where I will be free from the presence of sin altogether.

Our prayer for ourselves and for those that we reach out to this month is that God will grant us repentance; that we will be freed from the slavery of thousand lost battles with temptation; that we will be usable tools in the hands of God; and that Christ will be magnified through our lives - Because a good breakfast…is just not enough.