What is interesting about temptation from the enemy is how hard he will push and push to get you to sin and then when you finally take the bait and sin – he’s nowhere to be found. Satan vanishes when we sin. He will leave us broken and alone. He will be hounding you, tempting you, he won’t leave you alone – until – you sin, and then he’s gone.
That stinkin’ liar just leaves us hanging, and when he comes back our way he comes to shame and condemn us for the very thing he enticed us to do. He gets up in our face and says, “You are pathetic, you’re worthless, you call yourself a Christian? God hates you; He wants nothing to do with you.” And we buy the evil one’s lie again. First, we believed the lie about the temptation, that it would fulfill us, and then we buy the lie that we are worthless and God hates us.
The truth is when we have sinned, God isn’t abandoning us, He is pursuing us. He wants to redeem us. In His love God wants to protect us from harmful choices. The enemy is gone when you are broken and alone. But when you are broken and alone God is going to pursue you in that moment and say, “I know you messed up, but I’m still coming for you, I’m still pursuing you and I’m offering you abundant life.”
The truth is Satan is a liar and a murderer; God is the truth and offers life.
Do you ever notice that the more you get on fire for God the more it seems that satan comes at you more than ever? I've seen too many christians fall when things seemed to be going good but I think the closer to and more in tune to God we are the easier it is to walk away from the temptation.
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