FROM THE PULPIT: WE LIVE WITH AN EVER PRESENT DANGER

Whether we turn to the Book of Job or we find ourselves with Jesus in the wilderness just after his baptism (Luke's Gospel 4th chapter) or somewhere in between, scripture constantly reminds us of Satan's presence in our world. And that presence continues to tempt humankind just as Jesus was tempted. We live with an ever present danger.

Remember that Satan came to Jesus after he had fasted for forty days and first challenges him to turn stones into bread and satisfy his physical needs. The Lord knows that most of us have difficulty fasting over the weekend (and we shouldn't with out proper guidance) much less for .forty days. Our modern society tells us that we should not put off satisfying our "needs" whatever our craving might be, food, sex, drugs. Anything that makes us feel good and "doesn't hurt someone else is acceptable. But Jesus admonishes Satan that there is more to life than the physical, "Man does not live by bread alone."

When Satan sees that he can not subvert Jesus with the physical he moves to man's desire for power and offers him the rule and splendor of all the nations of the world., if he would worship Satan. How often have we desired to have what Satan offered Jesus. Not me you say, just think about those occasion when we have heard or said, "What I would give if they would only. . . ". Sometimes we may used some form of force to insure others carry out our desires. From Clinton to Hussein we see it in those who govern our societies, we have seen it in the patriarchal societies of the past and in the feminist movement of today, from the slave owners before the civil war to the civil rights movement of today, we can see those who's desire for power have created unnecessary problems for the peoples of today. Often in our desire to do good we find that it is the power that has become our master and not our Lord. Remember Jesus response to Satan's offer, "It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."

With Satan having failed twice to turn Jesus from his calling he makes one more attempt, he takes one more shot by telling Jesus to make God prove His faithfulness. Satan put Jesus on the highest point of the temple, with the Kidron Valley floor some 450 feet below him and says to him, "Jump, scripture says that his angles will not let you be injured." We who claim God's unfailing Grace need to listen to Satan's challenge of Jesus as a challenge for ourselves. We often believe that we can do what we want, when we want in any manor we desire and God's Grace will prevail. We often want Grace to mean, God you must forgive me. You said you would. But Grace comes for me with the agonizing knowledge that I have once again put God to the test. If I could have remained faithful, there would have been no need for grace. Jesus had no need to jump and he understand that there is no need to test God. God is faithful It is the Tempter that is an ever present danger.

In Maxie Dunnam's Book, The Devil at Noon' Day, he titles his opening chapter "Is Your Devil to Small. He challenges the reader to look at the fourth chapter of Luke's gospel and recognize how Satan speaks to us as he did to Jesus and answer the questions, In what way(s) am I being tempted, and have I discounted the danger it presents? How great is this temptation? We may not recognize the one on one temptations that Jesus experienced in the wilderness, but we too have our wilderness experiences. C. S. Lewis, in his book, The Screwtape Letters present the subtle ways in which modern peoples are confronted. As I consider the effects that being tempted has had upon us I remember the passage from I Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Scripture does say it, but I can hear The Devil saying to Jesus, "I'm not through with you yet as he departed. Scripture says. Luke 4:13

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Satan was an ever present danger for Jesus and he continues to be for us.