Sermonette for Saturday
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Peter 2:9
During a heart-to-heart talk with an older Christian, a young Christian confided that he often doubted his salvation, because he encountered so many temptations. He pointed to our text today and said that if the Lord delivers the godly from temptation, maybe he wasn’t one of the godly. Wisely, the older saint reminded him that our text doesn’t say that the Lord will keep us from encountering temptations, but that the Lord knows how to deliver us out of the temptations that we do encounter. In fact, he reminded the younger Christian, the fact that he was encountering temptations was proof that he was truly saved. More than that, temptations actually do us good, if we approach them correctly: ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience’ (James 1:2-3). In fact, the Scriptures have much to say about our temptations.
First of all, we are told that there is nothing unusual about encountering temptations and trials: ‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you’ (1 Peter 4:12). Our temptations come with a promise from God that He will never allow anything that we can’t handle: ‘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’ (1 Corinthians 10:13). Another great promise from God is that He will give us the strength and grace we need: ‘And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). You and I may not appreciate our trials and temptations, but they are actually very precious to our Lord: ‘That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 1:7). Perhaps best of all, God has huge rewards, even a crown, for all those who endure tribulations as we should: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him’ (James 1:12).
Don’t be too downhearted when the temptations come. Just look into the Book for a reason to rejoice in them. – Jim MacIntosh