May 26
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
If a clear, logical laying out of all the consequences of sin and all of the benefits of not sinning would result in far fewer of us choosing sin, what is standing in the way of us obtaining this type of rational analysis before we commit sin? Why can’t or don’t we see clearly when temptation comes, and why is it that is seems like all we can see is the momentary gratification? Why does this momentary gratification seem so attractive and compelling to us to the point that we convince ourselves that we must have it or that we must do this thing that God calls sin? How can we get better at rational thinking and analysis when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of committing sin?
To help answer some of these questions, let’s start with Jesus. The verse quoted above states that Jesus was able to endure the cross and ignore the shame He was subjected to because of the joy set before Him. He knew and was keeping clearly in mind the goal, the prize, the reward, the joy of victory. That is how He was able to endure the cross and not run away or sin in the midst of that horrible butchering. Why does a woman endure childbirth? Why do athletes endure the grinding hours of exercise and exertion? Why would anyone willingly go through surgery or a treatment for cancer? Why do husbands and wives stay married in less than pleasant, even abusive, marriages? Why do Christians endure ridicule and abuse without denying their faith or their Lord?
Is not the reason in all of these situations at least in part due to the fact that the people involved are hoping for something better or are convinced that the results and rewards of success will be greater than the effort involved? In short, they are looking for the reward, and they know that there will be greater joy for them and others in their lives as a result of their obedience and endurance and suffering. So also we ought to view resisting sin in a similar light. We need to be looking at obeying Christ and bringing Him pleasure as the joy and reward that will get us through whatever we might endure if we resist temptation and obey God’s commandments.
When you are tempted, how often do you think about the reward for obedience? How often do you think about the costs and benefits? How often do you compare your situation to that of Joseph or Job or Jesus? How often do you think about the joy that might be yours if you successfully resist? What do you need to change in your thought processes to make evaluating and considering the rewards and joy of obedience an automatic part of you thinking when you are tempted?