Satan's 9th Tactic To Draw Us Into Sin

Tactic 9: Satan will highlight all the difficulties that accompany those who walk in the ways of holiness. Satan will work to convince you that there are none more troubled in the world than those who are trying to follow Christ.  He will tell you that it is madness to spend your days in sorrow, vexation and affliction when it can be prevented by walking in the way he presents to you.  

First Remedy: Remember that all the troubles that come upon God's people will ultimately benefit them.  We can point out at least seven benefits to the saints. 

• First, In our affliction we learn to see sin in its true colors.  They function like a magnifying glass to give us the clearest possible picture of sin's ugliness.
• Second, they contribute to the mortifying and purging of sins (Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 27:8-9). They are the furnace which purifies God's people of their impurities.  Remember that Israel would not listen to the prophets in a time of prosperity, but captivity in Babylon caused them to put away their idolatry.
• Third, afflictions work as preservatives to keep the saints from sin (Job 34:31-32). A child which touches a hot stove remembers not to do it again.  A saint under the discipline of the Lord does not want to purchase repentance at so high a price again.  
• Fourth, afflictions make us more fruitful in holiness (Hebrews 12:10-11). Stephen was only able to see heaven open and the Savior standing at the right hand of God while the rocks were beating his body and he was only moments from death.  By the afflictions that befall them, the saints gain a clearer picture of the God that upholds them.  
• Fifth, afflictions serve to keep the saints humble and tender (Lamentations 3:19-20). Prosperity tends to puff us up while affliction brings us low. 
• Sixth, afflictions bring the saints nearer to God and make them more earnest in prayer (Psalm 119:67,71).  Brooks writes, "Afflictions are like pricks at the nightingale's breast, that awakes her, and puts her upon sweet and delightful singing."
• Finally, afflictions work to revive and recover graces that have fallen into disuse and faith that has grown weak.  The more the saints are beaten by the hammer of affliction the more they become trumpets of God's praises.   Adversity serves to diminish our desire for the world and gratification of the flesh.

Given these benefits, let no one be so mad as to leave the difficult road to holiness to walk the smooth path of wickedness.


Second Remedy: Remember that all the afflictions that affect the saints can only affect the flesh, they cannot harm the spirit (1 Peter 3:13). Socrates said of his enemies, "They may kill me but they cannot hurt me."  Afflictions may kill us but they cannot hurt us; they may take away our life, but they cannot take away our God, our Christ nor our crown (Mt. 10:28).

Third Remedy: Remember that the afflictions of the saints are only momentary (Psalm 30:5).  It is a very short time between grace and glory, between our title to the crown and our wearing the crown, between our right to the heavenly inheritance and our possession of the heavenly inheritance (Hebrews 13:36-37). Remember that God does not account time like we do and the scriptures speak of our "slight momentary affliction" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Fourth Remedy: Remember that the afflictions that come upon the saints flow from the deepest love of God (Rev. 3:19).  A person who escapes affliction may have good reason to suspect his adoption into God's family (Hebrews 12:5-8).  When we are first converted we are just a rough model of what God intends us to be but it is through affliction that God shapes us into a man or woman that is fit for glory.  This shaping and molding is a sign of God's love.

Fifth Remedy: Remember that it is our duty and glory not to measure afflictions by their beginning but by their end.  When Israel left bondage in Egypt they did so with all the treasures of their oppressors (Exodus 11:3). When they left Babylon, they did so with the treasures and blessings of that kingdom (Ezra 1:7-11). Look more closely at the end of a Christian than the beginning of his affliction.  Don't look at the beggar Lazarus but rather see him lying in Abraham's bosom.  Don't look at Joseph in prison but see him as ruler of Egypt.  Don't see David being chased by Saul, but see him as King of all Israel.  Afflictions are like the dirt road that leads to a royal palace; they are the dark door to the Father's house. 


Sixth Remedy: Remember that God's design in affliction is to prove the character of his saints, not to ruin them (Job 33:10; Deuteronomy 8:2).  God sometimes afflicts his people to display to them and to others what is truly in their hearts.  In the same way that snow can cover a dunghill, prosperity can cover a rotten heart.  Withered leaves fall off in windy weather and rotten limbs are removed by the storm.  Afflictions show us where are hearts are most unsound.  Our complaints will reveal where are most vulnerable to sin.

Seventh Remedy: Remember that the afflictions that accompany sin are far worse than those that are found in the way of holiness.  What is a golden cup that has poison at the bottom? The curse of God, the wrath of God and the fierce indignation of God always accompany those who choose wickedness and disobedience.  Turn to Deuteronomy 28:15 ff. or Leviticus 26:14 ff., and you will see how the curse of God follows the sinful.  There is no solid joy or lasting comfort that travels with sinners in their wicked ways.