As good as it gets

If you haven't figured it out yet, Satan is a LIAR! I was doing some pondering tonight after watching a sermon on temptation. I didn't really hear any crazy, groundbreaking truth that I never heard before, but I did think to myself that temptation still works in my life. Everyone can probably relate that there are some things that we seem to struggle with constantly even though we know they are wrong. Yet, we still fall, and then we think that we are losers because we realize our stupidity. It becomes a vicious cycle. Why do we fall for temptation? Because it usually looks awesome! Otherwise, it wouldn't tempt us. We've all got these needs and desires that must be filled. God made us this way. God also has ways of meeting every single need and desire that we have. God is our Father, and He's pretty capable of taking care of us. "My God SHALL supply ALL your need according to His RICHES in Glory in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19 Okay, so there it is, plain and simple. God promised to take care of us. It seems like this promise should take care of our dilemna, but it doesn't seem to be working all the time. Why? There are two reasons. The first reason is that we don't fully trust God to come through. So we look for satisfaction elsewhere. The second reason why temptation works is because we believe lies. We get misled by the Devil and ourselves. Satan is a destroyer and a liar. While God wants to bless and fulfill our lives, Satan wants to curse and wreck our lives. One of the ways he does this is by luring us away from God's goodness with lies. Usually no one will willingly walk down a path that they know will lead to their total destruction. Why do we choose these wrong paths? Because we think that they are leading to somewhere great. We think that the object of our temptation will bring us what we ultimately want. In order to get us headed in the wrong direction, Satan lies to us. He will undermine every truth that God has told us, until he gets our attention. I realized tonight that one of the lies that Satan has me believing is that "This" (whatever it may be) is as good as it gets. I stop trusting God, get impatient, and chase after something totally pathetic because I think that the temptation is the best I can expect in this life. I think that this lie is believed a lot. Most people pursue the American dream, reach it, and then lead miserable lives thinking that this is as good as it gets. I've read in God's Word that the best life has to offer is available, but it's not found where we often look for it. God says that he is the source of all that is good. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:4 Only God knows want you truly need and want, and He wants to give it to you. But it takes patience, trust, and commitement. Ps. 37:5-11 So let's not settle for less, much less than the best. However, not only is the path of temptation less thant the best, but it's ultimately dangerous. "And sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." So next time we are tempted, recognize the lie and seek the truth. Remember that SAtan came to steal, kill, and destroy, and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the FAther of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 2:16-17 Believe it!