James 1:14–15 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
There are certainly good desires, but unfortunately there are also bad desires. These bad desires can pop up on us at any time, especially when we are in the heat of the moment. That moment comes when we are in anger, or tempted by something we know is wrong but it feeds our desire to justify doing it.
In one of the movies of “Indiana Jones,” a woman was hanging on for life as she could just touch the edge of the Holy Grail that was about to fall into an endless cavern. Just a little more in her reach and she could have this priceless treasure that would make her famous. The women could not give way to leaving the Holy Grail to its fate, and more important her having this treasure that heals all wounds. Her fate was sealed by her undaunted desires and she fell into the endless cavern, never to be seen again. Some treasures are best left alone, especially when it is spawned from our sinful desires to have it.
Genesis 22:1–2 1After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
God did not tell the woman to save the Holy Grail, of course this was only a movie. God did command Abraham to do something that would put an end to Abraham’s only son. This was a test from God to see how much Abraham trusted God. Let me remind you God had this all under His control. What we should receive from this account of Abraham’s test of faith is how does our faith match-up to God’s gifts to us. Again, remember God has everything under His control.
My faith is strongest in that God will always make the right choice. God knew that Abraham would trust Him, and follow through sacrificing his son Isaac. God promised Abraham to be the father of all nations, as many as there are stars in the sky, and sand on the beach and Abraham believed this to be true.
Abraham had faith in God and trusted that God would keep His promise to him. Especially when Sarah tried to accomplish God’s promise through their maidservant. God said no, Ishmael was not the child because this child Isaac, had to be born of Sarah. It was through this child that the savior would come from.
Genesis 22:9–12 9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Abraham passed the test of faith, and though we might not have to sacrifice our child, do we pass the test of our faith? I like to believe I would, certainly I am being tested every day. But the test you and I face is not from God. Rather, we are tested daily through our sinful desires, and the peer pressure of the world around us. Our test is through the subtleties of a world that says if it feels good do it. Take your heaven now, because you might not get it later. Live for today. But God promises us a heaven later and tells us to put our treasure in heaven. God did not lie to Abraham, why would He lie to us who follow Him.
James 1:12–13 12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
The world and our desires lie to us each and every day, but God gives us the truth, and Jesus is the truth that sets us free. We follow Jesus through the hope that God’s promises are true. Hope is putting faith in those things that are true. Jesus bought us hope when He died on the cross for our sins. They say a dying man tells the truth, certainly when that man is both God and man we can have faith in His last words as truth. “Forgive them Father,” and “It is finished.”
Mark 1:14b 14bJesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus proclaimed a gospel of repentance, forgiveness, and eternal life with the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a promise we can have faith in. Our creator has done everything needed to save His creation. I tell you the truth when I say you are His creation and you who believe have eternal life and relationship with the one true God. Amen.