Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away… James 1:14 (NIV)
Sinclair Ferguson, in his book, The Christian Life, describes the treason of sin: “The enemies we face attack us from outside our own hearts and move inward… to draw our affections towards themselves and away from our Lord. But their power rests on… the ‘landing ground’ they are able to find within our own lives.”
He goes on to point out that there was “nothing in our Lord’s character that could be employed as a natural fulcrum by which Satan could lever his way into Jesus’ life.” That is why Jesus could say about Satan, “He has no hold on me” (John 14:30).
But for the Christian there is a base of operations from which Satan is able to work. As long as you are in the body, you will experience a struggle with temptation. Sin is not your master, but it will always be your enemy. When Christ comes into your life, He overthrows sin’s rule, but He does not eradicate its presence until we finally enter heaven.
Think about the difference between Teflon and Velcro. Teflon is a non-stick surface. If you fry your eggs on Teflon, they slide off beautifully. But stuff sticks to Velcro. You have to pry it off. The flesh is like Velcro to sin. Sin sticks to the flesh. The flesh provides a landing place for sin in your life. So, sin is the enemy with which you will always have to contend.
Which would you say best reflects the experience of your soul with sin—Teflon or Velcro? Why?
