Thoughts From a Prison Cell (10)--Enticed by My Own Lust

5/29/2012--I've been thinking a lot about the children of Israel in the wilderness and how God used that time to make Moses into the leader He purposed him to be. Because the wilderness is a painful and lonely experience, it exposes us for who we are. It strips us of every vain encumbrance revealing the depths of our weakness. Once we've been exposed to our vile nature, we should turn to God's merciful offer of salvation. Yet, most do not.

For about a week, I got distracted by my case. I started talking to a woman, who I now believe is a con-artist. After talking to several other women who pulled me aside, realizing what was going on, they convinced me with solid evidence that this woman tries to get information to give to the Feds that can be used against someone but lessen her sentence. Apparently, it's quite common in prison.

Promising freedom, I bought the lie and bit down on the lure she cast for me. She was probably thinking how easy it was to lure me in. But why was it so easy? That's the bigger question for all of us, isn't it?  Isn't this just like temptation and sin? Sin always promises us something alluring it can't deliver while distracting us from our worthy focus of Christ. Sin always brings forth death. 

I was reminded of a lesson I learned regarding temptation, sin, and God's purposes in trials when studying James 1 years ago.

James 1:12-18--Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. No one is to say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 

(Whether in a fish tank, a pond, or the ocean, hiding is a natural instinct for fish...in nature, they most often hide in the rocks. We get it. When in danger, get behind something or someone big and strong, right? So what are some reasons fish hide? Fish hide when they are new to the pond--they can be shy or skittish. They have to adjust to a new way of life. They might hide due to changes in their water (environment)--it can stress them out! They might have a valid fear of predators. Or they simply might not feel well and want to avoid the crowds.)

( The following is from a mix of what I have been taught and from a great article written by Darrell Ferguson. When talking about God's purposes for us in trials we must distinguish by the context between trials and temptation. God sends trials into our lives to test us and refine us. We can joyfully submit to these trials knowing that they have been sent by God to sanctify us--for our good and His glory. In the Greek, the word for trial and temptation is the same word. James has been talking about trials, but he wants us to understand that while trials come from God, temptation does not. Temptation is enticement toward sin. God doesn't ever entice us to sin!)

(James uses hunting and fishing language in verse 14, which is the verse that came to mind when I realized what 'Lynn' was doing in my story above. vs. 14--But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. We can never use the excuse by Flip Wilson--"The devil made me do it!" (Or anyone else for that matter.)  Here, I am the fish thrown into the fishbowl of prison (my friends from Alderson will love that analogy). I am one with the Rock (so to speak)--safe and secure. The temptation in life is the baited hook--baited with a shiny, sparkling lure especially enticing to my own flesh. But who is the fisherman? Most of us would automatically say, "Well, it's Satan!" But no...if that were so, we could maybe use the excuse that the devil made us sin. Who actually is the one who reels me in? It's me! I'm my own worst enemy. It's my own desires, my own flesh, that entices me to leave the security of my hiding place--the Rock that is Christ--to grab something I believe is better than what I have. One writer pointed out that there are some things that just don't tempt me but might tempt others--like ice cream or cookies tempt me! The only thing that can hook me onto what is dangling in front of me--that will give birth to sin--corresponds to the evil inside me.)

ALL MY SIN ORIGINATES INSIDE ME. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

(Satan doesn't get off the hook so easily, though. He is a roaring lion seeking to devour me. He is the external enemy who knows my weaknesses. He's been watching me for a very long time. In Chapter 4, James teaches us how to do battle with him. Here, he simply wants us to realize that the first step in winning the battle of temptation is recognizing how sin is born in us. We must know where it comes from and the power it has over us. It is our own desires that give it so much strength. We must be able to fight our internal enemy before we are able to do battle with our external enemy. Submit to God, but resist the devil. When we resist the devil, he will flee from us. We must resist the lusts of our own flesh, first.)

(The greatest danger in our trials, even in the worst situation you can think of, is not what people around us might do to us but what our own hearts might do to us. Darrell Ferguson said something so apropo, that I must quote him: "People say, 'I need to be true to myself.' We have a name for people who are true to themselves: inmates. Prisoners have riots in prison. Do you know what a riot is? A whole bunch of people being true to themselves. When you remove the threat of being arrested you get to see what people are really like, and it's not pretty. Self is not the solution to your problems--its the cause.")

(Yikes! So much more could be said about that in reference to the volatile political state of our own country, but I'm sure your mind is racing there already.)

(Back to my story about the 'con-artist in prison' (that's not as much a stretch looking back as it was to me then). In fact, I am the greatest con-artist in my life! Lesson learned: If I had not complained about my appeal to Lynn, I would have never given her an opening. I need to keep my faith in Christ no matter what, never in man! I must look to the one who ordained each and every trial and trust Him that it is for my good and glory, and that He will deliver me from it in His perfect time. )

(The Lord pulled me out of County Jail before I got hooked by this lure. He is my Teacher and my Protector.)

I didn't journal for two weeks while in transit. Tomorrow, will be my last post on Thoughts From a Prison Cell. It is the story of what happened during these two weeks. 

***Everything in parentheses is not from journal but looking back on my circumstances.