Satan tempts the young husband, married for 5 years, to wait for the family to fall asleep then head down the stairs to turn on the computer. The rush from the scenes on the screen would only be there for a few minutes. After all, it wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Satan tempts the businessman in Houston to falsify his income tax report on April 15th. That extra $15,000 would buy his family the second car they so desperately need.
Satan tempts the father of 3 who has been working late. He begins to notice the lady in the office down the hall. What harm would there be in a casual conversation or an innocent lunch. She is caring and shows real interest in his feelings. The glances and casual conversations could soon turn into intentional encounters.
Temptations. They come at us like snowballs in a huge snowball fight. They’re Satan’s greatest tool to bring us down until our face is in the dirt.
He always tries to give us something that we think we want now without giving us a clue of the consequences we’ll face later. He’s the master of deception.
Jesus knew that, so He dealt with Satan in the only sure fire way He can be immediately defeated. He didn’t argue; He didn’t play around with him; He didn’t rationalize. He simply put the arrow of scripture right in Satan’s heart ... where knockout the blow would be instantly delivered.