Too Soon
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” There is no temptation we will face that Jesus doesn’t already know how to handle with victory. One encouraging and enlightening passage God has given us in the Bible is the account in Luke 4 of Satan’s attempts to tempt Jesus to sin. Seeing how Jesus responded to temptation helps you and I as we face temptations in our own life.
There is much I could mention from that passage, such as the fact that Jesus always responded to Satan with Scripture, or that Satan’s temptations centered around the three main “enemies” given in 1 John 2:16, but today I want to point out a very specific strategy Satan used against Jesus—a strategy he often uses against you and I as well.
Look at what Satan does in verses 5-7:
“And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.”
Satan gave Jesus a glimpse at something that was, in fact, rightfully His. One day, all the kingdoms of the world will acknowledge Christ as King. Philippians 2:10-11 describes this:
”That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus didn’t need Satan to give Him all the kingdoms of the world…so why did he offer them as a temptation?
I think temptation wasn’t so much the kingdoms, as the timing. Notice that Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth “in a moment of time.” There was an immediacy about the viewing, and even more immediacy in the offer. Satan was effectively offering a shortcut—and one that would sidestep the pain (and the victory) of the cross.
Isn’t that just what Satan does in your life and mine? He takes something that may even be God’s will later on, and offers it now—in exchange for an idolatrous submission to Satan. By choosing to take too soon what God has planned for later, we are in practice worshiping Satan, saying yes to him and no to God.
So, what can we do when Satan offers us something that seems good, that even seems even to be God’s will for our lives, just a little sooner than He had planned? We do just what Jesus did:
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”(Luke 4:8)
We fight the temptation of “too soon” by remembering Who it is we serve and worship. When faced with an opportunity, we need to ask ourselves (or, better yet, ask God to show us) whether we are choosing to serve God His way, or whether we are simply trying to bypass His timing.
God has each and every moment of your life orchestrated for your good and His glory. Skipping any step or shortening any season of His will for you will always result in something contrary to your good and God’s glory.
Dear Reader, what is it that you are tempted to act on or jump into too soon? Trust God, and choose to serve Him His way, and in His timing, remembering always that Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but God delights in bringing you abundant joy, fruitfulness, and life.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7