“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Not all temptation is alike. Some temptations come on suddenly and fiercely, like a gust of wind that catches us by surprise. We know we must instantly resist or we will fall. In these we can experience immediate defeat or immediate victory. Other temptations are long-standing, persistent and connected to our deepest desires. These are our high places for which we need hind’s feet. They can eventually bring us to ruin, or through them, we can find our greatest triumphs in the faith.
To overcome either type of temptation we must be established in the knowledge that He who the Son sets free is free indeed. Through the grace of God that has brought us salvation we can deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. We can see the tempter turn tail and flee as we resist him steadfastly in the faith. The attack that came upon us fast and furious is just as soon repulsed and our soul once agin can return to her rest. But overcoming the second type of temptation requires a learning of Christ. Our imperfect humanity must find in His perfected humanity a hope of standing that goes far beyond a simple act of will. The Spirit must take the things of Christ and show them to us. This victory is not simply found in our knowing we don’t have to sin; it is found in our abiding in Christ. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)
In our desire to overcome sin, let us look to both the work and person of Christ. Calvary’s cross supplies us the confidence to immediately overcome. Beholding the glory of Christ, by the Spirit of the Lord, transforms us on the deepest level of our being. Let us be confident that in Jesus we have all we need to be all God wants us to be.