When the Pevensie children first entered Narnia, Edmund was separated from his little sister and bumped into the White Witch. She immediately identified him as a threat, so she decided to win him over to her side. She spoke kindly to him and asked if he’d like something warm to drink as he was shivering in the snow. He would, he said, so she conjured a drink with her powers, “something he had never tasted before, very sweet and foamy and creamy, and it warmed him right down to his toes.” Next she asked if he’d like something to eat with his drink, and he asked for Turkish Delight, which she quickly created before his eyes: “several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious.”
Edmund finished off the Turkish Delight while the White Witch pressed him for information concerning his brother and sisters and how he had come to enter Narnia. She asked him to bring his siblings to her house.
“It is a lovely place, my house,” said the Queen. “I am sure you would like it. There are whole rooms full of Turkish Delight, and what’s more, I have no children of my own. I want a nice boy whom I could bring up as a Prince and who would be King of Narnia when I am gone. While he was Prince he would wear a gold crown and eat Turkish Delight all day long; and you are much the cleverest and handsomest young man I’ve ever met. I think I would like to make you the Prince—some day, when you bring the others to visit me.”
C.S. Lewis. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
She baited the hook with pleasure and pride, a double dose of deliciousness.
What Are the Sources of Temptation?
Temptation comes from three sources: Satan, the world, and our own corrupt hearts. We are told to resist the devil and he will flee from us. We are told not to consent when sinners entice us. And we are told to flee youthful lusts.
Temptation attacks from three angles: the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Satan tore into Eve with all three tactics. As she gazed upon the forbidden fruit, she saw the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and was desirable to make one wise (pride of life). She fell, Adam fell, and we fall for the same root reasons.
How Can We Fight Temptation?
God warned Cain, “Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Gen. 4.7). In other words, sin wants you—to own you, to beat you, to destroy you—and it is more powerful than you. However, our sure defense is in trusting obedience to the Lord. “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4.7). You are not stronger than the devil, but God is, and when you submit to God and resist, God will drive the devil away from you. You must trust God to do that work.
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2.22). Joseph did not dawdle when Potiphar’s wife grabbed his coat. He ran out of the house naked, leaving his garment behind! Getting away from the temptation trumped his dignity. Is it embarrassing to tell other men that I don’t have the password to my iPhone? It can be, yes, but it is important to me to block that temptation. A thousand little Potiphar’s wives hang around on the internet saying, “Look at me. Lie with me. Enjoy me.” Flee those youthful lusts!
“Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22.40). Jesus told His disciples to pray against temptation, which He had already taught in His model prayer: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” We should busy ourselves in prayer, wearing out our knees calling upon the Holy Father for help.
How Did the Lord Deal with Temptation?
Jesus knew the great red dragon anticipated the hour of his birth and waited to devour Him as soon as He appeared on the planet (Rev. 12), but He trusted in His Father for protection.
Jesus resisted Satan face-to-face, a mind-blowing, epic presentation of wisdom, self-control, and humility. In his fervor to make Jesus fall, Satan employed all three ways of temptation: “Command that these stones become bread” (lust of the flesh); “Throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (pride of life); “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (lust of the eyes).
Jesus dealt with temptation immediately. “Get behind Me, Satan!” He commanded when Peter tempted Him (Matt. 16.22–23).
Jesus prayed against temptation. In His most desperate hour, He knelt in a secluded spot in Gethsemane and prayed fervently:
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22.41–44
What Now?
Use these tools to fight temptation. Your temptations may not look like mine, but the root causes are always the same: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Identify your temptations. Name your weaknesses. Beware Turkish Delight.
Resist temptation by fleeing. This seems contradictory, but Satan wants you to linger and die. If you flee and survive, you win that battle!
Resist temptation with scripture. Read and memorize the word of God—it is your sword in the fight against the forces of darkness.
Resist temptation with prayer. Place your trust in God’s strength, not your own. He can bind the dragon with a single angel (Rev. 20.1–3).
And praise God for your victories! Amen.