“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34

What are our treasures in life?

We often have treasures of family, treasures of heirlooms, treasured prizes, treasured keepsakes, treasures of friendships and treasured memories.

Often, we even count our health and material blessings to be treasured, especially after times of sickness or financial lack.

We count our blessings among our treasures also because we cherish those things and are grateful for them.

As Jesus told us, these treasures, things, whatever that we hold near and dear, so much so that it does indeed take up space in our hearts, that is our treasure.

Whatever we have considered to be that treasure will in fact determine exactly where our hearts and the allegiance of our souls shall lie.

So, what happens when the treasure of truth of the Word of God and His commandments and requirements for living a Godly life are exchanged for a perverse and contrary treasure.

A worthless treasure comprised of the fools’ gold of self-worship and the honoring and celebration of lifestyles and behaviors that are flaunted to the entire world, celebrated as precious gems when they are nothing more than worthless colored glass.

Rejecting the true treasure of fire-furnaced gold and time-tested gemstones alluding to the price which requires self-sacrifice while being complete free, the price of the required self-denial deemed a cost too high.

Much worse, the concerning, now common occurrence of amassing a treasure filled with nothing more than the components of temptation.

The pride and arrogance of rebellion and self-will which is now celebrated. while the truth of Gods commands is mocked and ridiculed, actions of which, if not repented for, will be accounted for at the throne of God.

That’s what I want to “talk about”, in this post.

Temptations, and how that now in our Babylonian Society temptations are no longer considered forces to be reckoned with, or battles to be won, temptations are now merely finding oneself in whom they were meant to be, which is ludacris.

Temptations come in all forms, shapes, and sizes.

Forms being anything that will tear your heart away from God, your loved ones, and the truth that you know deep inside concerning right and wrong.

Yes, contrary to popular world view, the moral compass given through the Bible is still accurate.

A temptation in something that will one way or another bring unpleasant consequences, so its needs hidden, or explained if ever brought to light.

If you have to hide it or at least hide it from certain people, that is a really good indicator that you know you should not be involved with it in the first place.

Forms can be, the obvious, sex, alcohol, drugs, anything that draws you with an unrelenting appeal, all the while you are knowing that the very thing you crave can be the very thing that destroys you and that can be the appeal for some people.

Shapes that we twist our temptations into, such as doing wrong as a means to justify the end, lying to ourselves and others than somehow it is a service and some help to others.

When we twist sin, removing its societal stigma, as we have with abortion and many other things, we are only repackaging the ugly truth so that it can then be resold to those who may not have ever bought it had they seen it in the original form.

Thats the entire purpose of coining new phrases and non-offending terms to hide the horrifying truth behind a seemingly harmless benign term.

The size of the temptation can vary as everything varies in our lives based on us as individuals, what might not phase me in the way of being a temptation may bring you to your knees, while on the other hand I could be goaded into a Battle Royale by something that you would laugh in the face of. if the enemy were to try to send it your way.

We are all different and the enemy does indeed use specialized, personalized warfare.

We have to learn to see temptations for what they truly are, not coping mechanism, not self-expression, not societal inclusion.

Temptation is exactly what is has been since the fall of man.

It is a specifically design trap to ensnare and destroy.

It breaks my heart to know the sheer numbers of those who once confessed the Lord but now confess that their temptations have become the ruler of their lives, such as those who leave the church and the callings of God to pursue “alternative” lifestyles, and even those who leave to pursue extra-marital affairs, sin is sin.

They can discuss these things, they can appear to glow with happiness, express their new “freedom” but they are more blindly ensnared to deeper destruction and damnation than ever in their lives.

No remorse, no guilt, not an ounce of shame. Why? Because those temptations have been exalted, no longer even considered something to shun, but now considered something not only to be embraced, but to be exalted and they have, they are actually exalting their temptations above God in their life.

The moment fulfilling any desire becomes more important than a relationship, a true relationship with God and someone has the audacity and pridefulness to deceive themself into believing that God’s commands do not apply to them and that He will allow them to sin and be contrary to his teachings because they are so special only proves how delusional and deceived their hearts have become.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.

And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 1:1-6

So classic, original trap and he still uses the same tricks today, he still confirms that people know sis is sin, because he has to get us to willingly commit sin, then to make sure people are unrepentant he convinces them that God is really okay with it and if they really want to be smart, they should listen.

Its picture perfect to today’s world, people think they are getting something good, and that they are popular, and smart when they are really helplessly deceived and being used as a pawn by satan to lead others into the same trap he has led them into.

Whenever temptation comes your way, do not ignore it, or analyze it or try to minimize it, or just wish it away.

We have to actually deal with it and in dealing with we take it out of our hands and put into God’s.

We confess these things to him as soon as it rears its ugly head, not foolishly trying to resist the temptation in our own strength, which is impossible, but submitting all to the Lord so that He will deliver us.

Remember this passage: …*“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”

“Blessed is the man that endureth  temptation: for when he is tried (tested), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, NEITHER tempteth he any man: 

But every man (person) is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH.

Do not err, my beloved brother.” James 1:12-16

Whatever may be vying for space in your heart today, please do not give in, just send it away!

God will deliver us and will always make an escape, but we have to ask for that escape, and we must be willing to accept deliverance, if we continue to coddle and mull over a temptation, we are giving the enemy exactly what he wants, he and the temptation has our attention. one way or another, even not giving in, it still has attention that should be kingdom focused.

Evaluate your treasures today and rid your heart of anything that does not bring glory to God and display the goodness of the kingdom!

“There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will NOT suffer (permit) you to be tempted (tested) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Love & Peace till next time! Thank you for reading! Nina

Φλογιζω NBJ 2023/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson