Home » Articles » Overcoming Temptations, part 3
Share |

Overcoming Temptations, part 3

* This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on "Overcoming Temptation."  Read Part 1 or Part 2.

Many times it can be discouraging when we make mistakes.  The guilt and shame from our mistakes have a way of keeping us from receiving forgiveness and love.

But we must remember that sanctification is a work of a lifetime.  Margret Thatcher once said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”  Proverbs 24:16 says, “a righteous [man] may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.” The only difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the righteous man will get back up after falling. 

The Bible gives practical steps in receiving forgiveness after sin.   Proverbs 28:13 says, “He that covers his sin shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes [them] will have mercy.”  In the story of David and Bathsheba, David recognized his sin and he pled for the life of his son.  After hearing that his son had died, he cleaned himself, worshipped God and ate.  I’m amazed at the response of David.  He acknowledged the fact that he had made a mistake, received God’s chastening, and then went and worshipped God.  David didn’t let his sin keep him from God.  He knew God was waiting for him to come back to the way of righteousness. 

1 John 1:9 says that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.”  Many times we feel like we need to make our lives right with God before we come back to Him.  We feel like we have to appease Him before He accepts us.  But the Bible reveals God as One who is always waiting for us to return to Him. 

So if you feel like you’ve fallen away from the Forgiver, why wait?  Come to God with your pains, sorrows, and failures.  Let Him heal and forgive you.  It is in this process of forgiveness that we will learn to overcome those sins that break us down.

“Great had been David’s fall, but deep was his repentance, ardent was his love, and strong his faith.  He had been forgiven much, and therefore he loved much.  Let us learn to overcome as David did, so we can love as he did” (Patriarchs and Prophets p 754).

___________

Roy Kim is a Religion Major at Andrews University.


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.