Temptation has been around for a very long time. Temptation existed before Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden. An angel by the name of Lucifer was not satisfied with his position in Heaven. He was tempted to take power that did not belong to him. Lucifer wanted to be God and would do whatever was necessary to become God. After a colossal conflict, God threw Lucifer out of Heaven and cast him into Hell. This temptation was indeed the first temptation even before Eve was tempted in The Garden. Lucifer became Satan and never returned to Heaven. Satan was thrown out of Heaven and became a serpent before tempting Eve. The Bible does not tell us the length of time between Satan being expelled before he showed up at the Garden. Being expelled could have happened between eternity or a few minutes before causing Adam and Eve their problems. God created all of the universe and everything in it. He created Man and gave him a mate. God had not much more than started before the Serpent came into the Garden of Eden. Once there, Satan talked Eve into tasting the forbidden fruit. These events document the first temptation involving a mortal man. When God came to the Garden, he could not find Adam and Eve. He asked where they were hiding and what had happened. Adam was tempted to ignore the truth and blame it all on Eve. It is safe to say that temptation has been a problem since God created humanity. God knew what had happened and where Adam and Eve were hiding but allowed them of their free will to compound the mistake.
Encyclopedia.com defines temptation in the Biblical sense as a “situation in which one experiences a challenge to choose between fidelity and infidelity to one’s obligations toward God.” Temptation is referred to consistently in the first three books of the New Testament. Matthew 6:13 states, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Mark 14:38 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Luke 22:40 tells us, “And when he came to the place, he said to them, pray that you may not enter into temptation.” The best example of resisting temptation is in Matthew 4:1-11, which tells the story of Jesus spending forty days and forty nights in the desert with Satan constantly tempting Him and promising Him treasures and substance. Matthew 4:1-11 reads: “Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, 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.’ Jesus said to him, it is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” How would you have fared if placed in the position where Jesus found himself?
First Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” It should comfort us that temptation is not a sin. We will be tempted at every turn, in everything we do, and from sources, we have not even imagined yet. When faced with temptation, we have choices, and it is up to us to participate in the temptation or avoid it. How we control our free will, our lust and desires, and how we set our standards will determine our success. First Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The temptations will never completely disappear. We should always be on guard, avoid the easy paths, and not be tempted by things we know are not right.