If
Gods' spirit works through one's conscience, the tempter also manifests in
everyone's choices at any given time. The tempter is crafty to distract human
to give in to its defenses. God embedded within human's consciousness the
freewill to have the power to choose. But because of ignorance of holiness,
retaliation and stubbornness of the hearts, there are tendencies
ending up in a wrong choice.
Revelation 13-14 It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling
them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and
revived.
Let's see:
An officemate invites for a night out in a bar. At first we would resist the
invitation because we are shy to. But because of the persistent motivation on
the next attempt, our yes is won over. As simple as, "C'mon, we deserve a
break. Let's enjoy life.", "As if you're not a man.", You'll
enjoy the night surrounded by girls." distract our attention. DEAL OR NO DEAL!
In a fight between two colleagues, you witnessed how your enemy attacks this friend of yours. Although you are aware that it is your friend's mistake that
results the commotion but you still sided with your friend with this counter
attack, "Don't allow yourself be dominated by this fellow, he would just
put you down all the more!", "Fight back, don't be intimidated by him. He's nothing but a coward dog!" DEAL OR NO DEAL!
Galatians 5:20 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of
selfishness, dissensions, factions.
While walking on the street, you saw a wallet filled with dollars. You are
trembling of excitement because of the huge amount inside which is close to a
half million peso. The tempter is clairvoyant to defend you like, "It's
Ok, it's not stolen anyway.", "Be practical, it can be a good start
to invest on something!" "That could already suffice your
insufficiency." DEAL OR NO DEAL!
You work as an Account Executive. In a government institution, you introduce your product which offers a solution to minimize direct damage to their million
dollar facilities, electrical systems, and electronic equipment. After
presenting and discussing the features and benefits of the product, the
prospect was impressed because of the long-term benefits and economy it could
provide. After a month of evaluation, you make the follow up. Fortunately, the
Key Officer considered the offer. The initial project is worth 20-million to
cover all the branches nationwide. You were told that the Purchase Order shall
be awarded but on the condition of marking it up by 20%. Your contact said that
even there's a 20% mark up, the offer could still be beneficial in which the
Return of Investment (ROI) could be recovered in a justifiable period of time.
Now, the tempter helps you to think like, "It shall be a career mileage
for you.", "You will earn a 2-million commission and a travel
incentive to the U.S., if you get the deal.", You'll get the promotion
from contractual to a regular employee." DEAL OR NO DEA!
Ephesians 5:5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. He will
either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Oftentimes,
we give in to the temptation because what we see primarily at an impulse is the
instant benefit that we could get right at that very moment but we could not
give time to balance our decision to think the repercussion of our action. We
tend to be impulsive because of the pleasure that the tempter offers which
blinds us to overlook the other people behind us especially our loved ones who
shall be affected, the people we directly offended, the risk to multiply the
worldly values which may pass on from one hand to another, the reputation that
is tainted. Those we unnoticeably disregard because we focus only on ourselves.
We forget that all the people behind us maximize their creativity to be decent
and be happy which we deprive because of our choice and its consequences.
Therefore in any wrong choice we make, there's no such thing as small or big
offense once it hits the one offended. The effect of pain will automatically
multiply to the people connected to the person we harmed because naturally the
pain and glory of one is the pain and glory of all.
Sirach 15:11-20 Say not: It was God's doing that I fell away", for what He hates He does not do. Say not: "It was He who set
me astray", for He has no need of wicked man. Abominable wickedness the
Lord hates, He does not let it befall those who fear Him. When God, in the
beginning, created man, He made Him subject to his own free choice. If you
choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do His will. There are
set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your
hand. Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; He is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The
eyes of God see all He has made; he understands man's every deed. No man does
He commands to sin to none does He give strength for lies.
In line with this man’s weak-point, the Catholic Church constantly reminds us the moral virtue of fortitude that
ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It
strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the
moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of
death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce
and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my
strength and my song." "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Sirach 5:2; 37:27-31)
The Christian begins his day,
his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The baptized
person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior's grace
which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the
cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties.
Whoever wants to remain faithful to his baptismal promises and resist temptations will want to adopt the
means for doing so: self-knowledge, practice of an ascesis adapted to the
situations that confront him, obedience to God's commandments, exercise of the
moral virtues, and fidelity to prayer. "Indeed it is through chastity that
we are gathered together and led back to the unity from which we were
fragmented into multiplicity."
Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship.
It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what
is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in
place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power,
pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot
serve God and mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring
"the Beast" refusing even to simulate such worship.
Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with
communion with God.
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