Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

James 1:13-15

NKJV

 

 

     

        Lest we start to get the wrong idea about God’s motives in using trials to test/prove our faith, James anticipates our next question: “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God."”

        God and evil are mutually exclusive. God is pure and good, righteous and just; and, therefore, He is the antithesis of evil. Evil is the opposite of everything God is. There is no hint of evil within God’s nature. In verse 17, James says of God there is no “shadow of turning” in Him. For that reason, God literally cannot tempt anyone to evil because tempting someone to do evil is itself evil.

        So, where does temptation come from?  It comes from within our own hearts. Verses 14 & 15 are some of the most instructive verses in the Bible about the nature of sin. Temptation exists purely apart from God and is found within rational, free-willed creatures like us, and, of course, Satan and the fallen angels. In that sense, we have much more in common with Satan than we would like to admit.

        James says “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Temptation begins in the heart. Like a parasite, it grows and grows, and left unchecked, it kills the host. Desire begins when we see something we like, we hear something that stirs us, we dream of something we think will bring us satisfaction, and we are enticed by it. Our destructive appetite for satisfaction or pleasure lures us to the thing we crave. This is how temptation begins.

        Adam and Eve’s temptation was not caused by the serpent. It was caused by their own desire stirred within them by the lies of the serpent. Sure, God had created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and forbid them to eat from it; and, yes, Satan was there to urge them to defy God. But it was their own evil desire for wisdom and power apart from God that tempted them to disobey and sin by eating from the forbidden tree. As with Adam and Eve, the deadliest temptation for any of us is self-deception—to believe we know what is “good” despite what God has said.

        When I allow desire to entice me away from God and what He has said is good, it is my desire that “gives birth to sin.” When I decide to satisfy the lust of the flesh (sin), physical and spiritual death will always be the result. But I must never blame God for my sin. The blame lies within me.

 

        Have you ever been tempted to blame others, even God, for your sin? Remember, God did not tempt you to sin. Are you being drawn away and enticed by a desire that will lead to sin?  Have you fallen prey to a temptation that has caused sin and death? Mourn and weep that you gave into your selfish desires and sinned. Then repent and return to your life-giving God.