“I read something the other day in Luke’s gospel,” Stan commented, “that pertained specifically to Jesus, but sure looks like it has a clear application for me as well as for every other person.”
“That sounds like a very broad application,” I said. “What were you reading about?”
“The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness,” Stan replied.
“I remember that,” I said. “Jesus had some great answers for Satan’s temptations. Good example for all of us in how to respond to Satan with the truth of Scripture. Is that the application you saw?”
“That’s a very important application,” Stan replied. “One we will focus on another day, but what I was looking is where Luke wrote that when Satan had finished every temptation with Jesus, he headed out of town until an opportune time.”
“An opportune time,” I commented. “That sounds kind of ominous.”
“It is,” Stan replied. “And that’s what Satan does. He waits. And when the time is right, when he thinks there’s an opportune time, he raises his ugly head and tempts.”
“When might such an opportune time occur?” I asked.
“Whenever I’m not prepared for how Satan wants to drag me down to his level.”
“Whenever, like in always?” I asked. “Why does God allow that?”
“If I knew for certain about that,” Stan replied, “I’d be sure to tell you. But it seems to me that one reason might be that God wants me to rely on Him for all things in an ever-deepening relationship.”
Continuing, he added, “God clearly provides the way out of every temptation. As well, He wants me to draw ever closer to Him so I will know Him and be able to claim all that He has for me. Seems to me that includes the way of escaping every one of Satan’s temptations.”
“Knowing God as the way out of temptation,” I commented. “That sounds kind of like that could fit under what Jesus said in John 17:3.”
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“Well,” I replied, “Jesus said that eternal life is knowing Him and His Father. If I spend the time I have remaining here pursuing that knowledge of God the Father and God the Son, it’s likely I will be prepared for when Satan comes calling with his temptation.”
“I think you’re right,” Stan said. “Know the Father, know the Son, and know how to disappoint Satan.”
“Know how to disappoint Satan?” I replied. “In what way?”
“By turning what he thinks is an opportune time,” Stan said with a smile, “into something that’s the exact opposite!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13.
And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Job 1:7.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your warnings about Satan’s temptations and how he wants to pull me down to his level. Thank you, too, for your provision of the ways out of his temptation. I confess that too often I am not sufficiently alert to what Satan wants to do and I give him an “opportune time” to pull me down. Please help me to be alert to what he wants to do to impact my faith walk with you. Help me to follow every step of your lead in recognizing and avoiding all that Satan wants to do in tempting me. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him so you can rely on Him to overcome Satan’s temptations? If no, why? Whether or not you are a Christian, do you believe that Satan is just waiting for an “opportune time” to tempt you and drag you down to his level? If no, you will not be prepared for what he wants to do. If you do believe it, how are you doing with being prepared? If you sense the need for greater preparedness, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 