A Minute of Pleasure, A Lifetime Agony

Photo by Everly Evangelista, taken at Magasang Rock Formation, Biri Northern Samar

In many instances, making a number of compromise may be one's option to play safe. For example, a wife confronts his husband's infidelity because of a coincidence when she caught him with a romantic date in a fine dining. To conceal the reality,  the husband would naturally fabricate a lot of excuses and never admit anything but rather be firm on his stand by saying, "I do not know!"

Matthew 5:37 All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Jeremiah13:27 Your adulteries, your neighings, your shameless prostitutions: On the hills in the highlands I see these horrible crimes of yours. Woe to you, Jerusalem, how long will it yet be before you become clean!

This reminds me of a story confided by my sister about her friend. This friend of hers had been receiving news about an illicit affair of her husband. She would not believe until she found herself and initiated a set up to meet them to end the issue. Using her husband's cellphone, she texted the other woman for a date. Caught unaware, the other woman confirmed. Then using another number, she pretended as the other woman to text the husband for a date. As expected according to the wife's plan, her husband and the other woman were already both inside the mall looking for each other. From a far, the two had no idea that somebody was watching over. After a while, the wife called up the husband asking, "Where are you?" The husband replied and lied, "I'm in the office!" The furious wife who's controlling her emotion to explode  told her husband to meet her at the mall. The husband answered, "Wait for me in 30 minutes."

Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance

Matthew 5:27-28 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Mark 10:11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

When finally the two had met, the wife entered into the picture hastily. The wife interrogated who was the woman as if she was clueless about what was happening. To her surprise, the other woman was dumbfounded when the husband denied her, "I do not know her!" The vehement wife remained her composure and talked to the other woman civilly, “I will not make any scandal here but leave my husband. You are destroying our family!" The other woman could not speak anymore out of fear. 

Hosea 2:7 She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.

When the couple reached their home, the husband remained unyielding by telling, "I don't know her." The day after, the other woman called up the wife to apologize that it was her fault of tempting her husband even she knew his status. She promised that she would stop that relationship.

Most of the time, we're like the character in the story who become habitual on denying many things even though we're aware of it. We know that lying is wrong but as if no one knows the right thing because of apparent marital infidelity, polygamous relationship and even pre-marital sex. Many things we know that are wrong aside from illicit affair are still evident in society's lifestyles as if no parents, church, and school have guided us while growing up.

John 8:43-44 Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word. You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

In all our wanderings, we can deny Jesus as much as we can because of each one's freewill. But believe it or not, that lying is the mother of all sins which destroys relationship, dignity, aspiration, trust, credibility and future. At any given time, we can say "I don'tknow" to things that we actually know which endanger our relationship with the people who trust us, which is a divine commitment, but at the appointed time, we can't be inthe same gesture again when we face Jesus. 

In heaven, there's no more excuses, no more explanation, no more buts, no more name dropping, no more pinpointing, no more blaming.....no more lies. Because by that time it's Jesus' turn to say, "I don't know you!"Jesus gives us the authority to be co-creator by representing His kingdom through sincere and truthful heart. This authority is of heavenly origin that we should look up with holiness, not to be truthful on lies but to be truthful in words and in deeds.

Some may undergo or currently into this type of struggle especially that temptations nowadays is very much accessible brought by techological mileage, by just one-liner text on a cellphone and through social network, the meet up could easily be arranged.  So would we just stop there and do nothing about it and continue judging these people who are into this difficulty and be part of a broken home or be a home-wrecker or be contaminated with different sexually transmitted diseases, etc.  which effect is long-term of agony? It's easier said than done but nothing in this earth especially when it comes to transformation is an overnight process but a single step is essential until perfection. To avoid temptation, please be guided of these tips:

Pray  - Jesus teaches us to seek God to lead us away from the snare of the temptation (Matthe 6:13) and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. A daily communion with God through prayer is the initial step to avoiding temptation.

Use the Word of God  - Memorize by heart some particular verses which serves as a reminder and as a shield to combat areas of temptation.  Make it a habit spending time in God's word.  By being aware that we'll be confronted by the Scripture tomorrow through distraction of the temptations, it can be significant to be focused on His word today.

Ephesians 6:16  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Matthew 13:23  But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

Luke 8:21  He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." 

Understand Your Personal Weaknesses  - Everybody is tempted in different forms (vices for others, material possession to a selected few, or pleasure to some).  We need to be aware of our weak areas to know to deal with it.

1 Corinthian 6;18  Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body.

Flee Temptation  - James 1:13-15 No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Create an Accountability Network  - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful (James 5:16 ).

Be engaged in a community of believers where mature people could be communed with, who are ready to listen than place you in a box and judge.

Don’t be Discouraged  - Don't make any room for the temptation to conquer you. Falling into a temptation should not be the reason to quit on a faith journey.  Treat a sin not as if it doesn't matter but as a realization to have a choice in the future actions. 

James 1: 12  Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. 

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.

Confess and Repent  - God knows everything before we reach the confession box so anything that we tell is not a surprise. Humility and a contrite heart is the that unveils to have our comunication with Him be re-opened. 

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8) .