Temptation: You Have a Choice!

Temptation comes in many forms and is around us every day.  Whether it is drugs, entertainment, alcohol, bad friendships or something else, you will face temptation often. In order to overcome temptation, we must put temptation into perspective.  In its simplest form, temptation is something that affects your desire.  It heightens your senses and consistently challenges you until you reach a point of decision.  Do you give into temptation and follow your momentary desire?  Or do you follow your own path and resist?

 

When fighting negative temptations, you must understand that when you give in, the choice you have made takes over.  When you give into temptation, it takes over and you lose self-control over the situation.  I would never want to put myself into a situation where I lose control of my own life and ability to choose what’s best for me.  For example, thousands of people across our world are alcoholics.  At some point, they gave into the temptation of drinking.  It reached a point that it took over their lives completely and many never fully recover from giving into that temptation.  The same goes for drugs, bad relationships, etc.  When we give into negative temptations, we risk losing ourselves and a positive future. 

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, “"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."  In regards to temptation and the decisions you make on a daily basis, how do you measure up?  In times of challenging temptation, do you choose what is comfortable and convenient at the moment or do you stand strong for what you believe and what’s in the best interest for your future?  Fifty years ago, Dr. King led a movement that changed the fabric of the United States forever.  After years of suppression and racism, many people wanted to pursue violence as a way of civil rights protest.  As a leader, he could have given into the temptation of violence but he took the high road and made a decision to stand up for morality and the rights of all people through peaceful demonstration.  On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he shared his dream and the world has never been the same.  Hundreds of thousands of people across the nation followed his lead and great advancements were made for civil rights peacefully.  What is your dream?  When temptation comes, will you be strong enough to choose the path that will lead you to success and the realization of your dream?

 

I have some friends that have made many bad decisions and their lives have been affected forever.  Many of those decisions were anchored in temptation and the choices they made then have caused the things they are going through now.  People I consider to be my role models are people of integrity and strong self-control.  They are true to themselves and don’t let temptation determine who they will be and the impact they will make on the world.  Be who you want to be.  Take the high road and live your life.  Don’t let temptation take over your life and I’ll meet you on the highway to success.