Have you ever had a deliveryman come to your door with a package you didn’t order and ask you to sign for it?
Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus taught us that sin is not our “thoughts” but what springs from those “thoughts” can become the problem. The thoughts themselves (temptations) are not sin; it’s what we do with them. The deliveryman knocks at the door, he delivers it, we receive it and ultimately pay for it. But just because he shows up at our door with something is no reason for us to accept it; it is our choice. How about the example of David?
2 Sam 11:2-4: And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4. And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
This is a very familiar story but let’s focus on what I think is the real message in these four verses. First note that David got up from His bed when it was time to go to bed. He had just sent his men off to battle and he was lying around the palace, sleeping during the day. It would seem he had already set himself up for the enemy. Now in the second part of verse 2 we see the deliveryman come to his door: he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. He should have said right then and there, I didn’t order it and I’m not paying for it. But what did he do? He took the thought and began to make it his own: David sent and inquired after the woman. He hadn’t sinned at this point but he was headed in the wrong direction.
When we begin to hold the sinful thought in our mind and contemplate it, whatever it may be, we are thinking about accepting the package. In this case David asked the deliveryman if he could see the package before he signed for it; but even having gone that far the Lord still tried to warn David. Here was the voice of, we presume, one of his servants who simply asks, “Isn’t that Uriah’s wife?” We have the Holy Spirit saying to us, “don’t look into that package, it’s not for you.” Perhaps it’s leaving the TV on the wrong channel too long rather than recognizing we need to move right on past it; or leave it off completely (now I’ve gone to meddling). Perhaps it’s not letting our anger and hurt over something become a root of bitterness.
But now look at what contemplating the thought results in. David succumbs to the thought and signs for the package by bringing Bathsheba to his palace with but one thought on his mind. We have a real lesson here in the way the enemy works. First David was in a place he shouldn’t have been. If he had been in battle with his men seeing Bathsheba taking the bath wouldn’t have even been an issue. Secondly he didn’t stop when the warning bell was sounded and he moved right on past the warning into sin.
That is so often how the devil works in us. It is always progressive and starts with a little thought. When he has planted it he will water and cultivate it unless you dig it up and get rid of it. Sometimes it takes a long time for the thought to become action but if we keep it sooner or later it will. We need to be vigilant because the Word tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion roaming about to see who he can devour. Sometimes he tries to take a big bite but most often he just nips nips and nips until all of a sudden we realize a big chunk is missing!
Contrast this example with that of Jesus in the Wilderness and the way is clear. He didn’t compromise at all. He answered the door, recognized the deliveryman, gave him the Word and closed the door. If David had done that, think about all the people that would not have been hurt. I have one or two of these instances in my life and I wish I had closed the door like Jesus.
Jesus showed us the way and we need to realize that this was Jesus the man. He did not sin for two very significant reasons: (1) He was totally submitted to the Father and (2) He spoke nothing but what He heard the Father say. How much easier life would be for us if we just did those two things?
He was tempted in “every” way (Heb 4”15) and never took delivery of an evil thought Himself. And yet He signed for ours and paid the tab! This is a wonderful definition of atonement; He charged His account for our goods. Think of all the temptations we face every day. He experienced them as well and never allowed one of them to turn into sin. He knew that we could never do that on our own and so He endured the suffering and shed His Blood for us and gave His Spirit to us. I like the way Oswald Chambers puts it:
Temptation means the test by an alien power of the possessions held by a personality. This makes the temptation of our Lord explainable. After Jesus in His baptism had accepted the vocation of bearing away the sin of the world, He was immediately put by God’s Spirit into the testing machine of the devil, but He did not tire, He went through the temptation “without sin”, and He retained the possessions of His personality intact.
I laughed at a friend of mine who told me that every time the “sin man” comes knocking at the door with a delivery he just slowly says the name of Jesus seven times. I stopped laughing after I tried it the first time. By the second or third utterance of His name my mind was turning upward to Him and the temptation began to fade. Let the Holy Spirit be like David’s faithful servant — Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
The next time the enemy or your old soulish nature puts those evil tempting thoughts in your head just remember that Jesus “has been” there and He has provided a way through to the other side. Quickly and forcefully close the door on the deliveryman without signing for the package:
1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
So if you are struggling in this area you need to remember that God will provide you a way of escape, but you have to choose to take it. And that’s why Paul told us to “take up” the “full” armor of God and be ready for the battle. To “stand” in the face of the enemy as one that has already won the battle and “stand” as one ready to take on the fight. Whether those thoughts come from the enemy or our old nature the battle plan is the same.
And here’s a positive thought to hang on to. The closer you get to your bridegroom the more frequent become the temptations and the more difficult the fight. And that often means that the battle you are in with those thoughts is just about to turn into victory, so don’t give up the fight. I know, that doesn’t sound very positive or encouraging but think about it. If you’ve become a threat to the enemy and gotten his attention there’s a reason for it… you’re having an impact in the Kingdom.
The bottom line… it all comes down to faith and trust in the One who became one of us and showed us that it can be done… our High Priest, our bridegroom, the One who has shown us the way and walks with us through our journey, the One who sent His Spirit to counsel us… the One who will never leave or forsake us. Let him answer the door and deal with the deliveryman!