Temptation, like everything else permitted to happen to me by God, has love for its object. Temptation is a cleansing fire, and the Refiner sits and watches the surface; the purpose of the fire is to remove the many impurities; when that is done, the fire will no longer be needed and the Refiner will understand that the task is complete when He can see the perfect reflection of Himself in the soul.
This flame soon shrivels up pride and its byproduct _ undue confidence in one's own natural strength. Instinctively there comes before the mind, to serve as illustration, the story of Peter. How brave he was when there was no fight, and how loyal to Christ before the testing came! "Even though all should be scandalized in Thee, I shall never be scandalized." The refining fire came a little later, and what salutary cleansings it effected in Peter! Deeply humiliated by his triple denial of his Master, he is pierced by the look of agony He gives him, but Peter knows and Christ knows that the whole incident has helped to Peter's growth in the likeness of Christ.
Lack of sympathy with others is the next element to be attacked and destroyed by the fire of temptation. Not infrequently you meet with persons who are indeed models of virtue, but you would never dream of taking them into your confidence to discuss your problems, especially your spiritual problems. There is an aloofness about them; perhaps they are harsh and unmerciful in their judgments about others. Without suspecting it, they thank the Lord they are not as the rest of men; they can look down from their high pedestals, patronizingly, on the poor souls that grovel at their feet and eat the dust.
One has seen, with deep satisfaction, how the fire of temptation transformed such wellintentioned souls. After experiencing their own great weakness, they understand the difficulties of others. They incline now to gentleness in their views. There is no longer the cocksureness in their attitude which they formerly boasted of. And the reason? Temptation has taught them their weakness; it has shown them how to sympathize with others, and this too is a distinct growth in Christliness of Me.
The struggle against temptation is one of the most meritorious acts we can do. "What doth he know that hath not been tried?" It is only when the scorching fires threaten us that we realize that life is a fight all the way, and it is when we resist the attack, and perhaps even take the fight into the enemy's own country by doing the direct opposite of what he suggests, that we most of all prove our love of God and store up immense treasure in heaven.
One wonders if the world and its offers were ever set before us more insidiously than today. There is every inducement to live as if there was no hereafter, to forget God, to ignore the supernatural. What force will stand up successfully to these attacks? The force only of a strong love of Jesus Christ and Mary; the deep conviction that holds us true to our principles in such adverse conditions. The soul resisting thus says to God, in so many words: "This sinful thing appeals to me; I feel drawn to take it. But I am throwing it away because, although I love it, I love You much more."
Jesus, teach me to go through the fires like the three young men in the furnace whom You protected from harm; who sang Your praises loudest when the flames were closest.