Enduring Temptation

It is my guess that the primary objective of James is to convince us that the ultimate consequence of enduring, resisting and overcoming temptation is eternal life (James 1:12). As the life of each of us may corroborates, the experience of going through trials and temptation is so real that it cannot be ignored. Therefore James take us to recognize and acknowledge its evidence and existence so that we can focus, now, on the divine promise of ultimate victory (Romans 8:37).

Once defined the promise that describes our destiny, James call us to reflect and identify the source and origin of the temptation that we so often have to cope with, and oh surprise, surprise... No wonder Paul exclaimed: "Miserable me! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24). James assures us that "each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1: 13-14). In other words, our actions come to be the voice of our nature, as it is the cause of our constant drive to consider and implement the actions of sin. Eve's experience illustrates the sequence of events that leads to the action of sin. Satan led Eve to feel a nonexistent need. She was in no need of food, and had a countless of other options to suit her taste. However, ignoring the thousands of options, she came to concentrate on the one and only tree that wasn't an option. The text says that under the false promise of preserving immortality and the acquisition of wisdom equal and rival to God's, Eve saw, wished, and "she took of its fruit," and finally ate (Genesis 3: 1-6). James indicates that we, having inherited this inclination to rebellion, by natural tendency, the act of sin is first conceived in our minds (James 1: 14-15).

James, like the rest of Scripture, reminds us that our personal argument to survival will always end in death. But it is here, at the level of conception of sin, not the level of implementation, that transformation must occur. That is why we are told to receive "with meekness the engrafted word, which can save" our souls (James 1:21), putting the pride and self-sufficiency on the side, in the words of James: "all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness. "

Scripture offers several strategies to internalize the arguments that promise to transform our nature. In Psalm 119: 11 we find, "In my heart I have hidden your word that I might not sin against thee,” giving the idea of complete assimilation. In Luke 4:8 Jesus used Scripture as a final and irrefutable argument against Satan, and in Ephesians 6:17 God's Word is a defensive tool as well as a weapon to advanced. It should be our first action to reverse the effects of our rebellious nature, a constant exposition to the divine influence through His Word. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Since the efficiency of divine intervention is subject to our attitude and subjection, we are warned and reminded of our limitations in order to develop an attitude of constant learning (James 1:19-20). At this point the secret is not in what we say, or the strength of our arguments because, really, who are we? The Scriptures define us in terms of a limited and even degrading terms (Isaiah 64: 6). But that's the message of James, which restates hierarchies and directs us in a process that ensures our regeneration, and eternal life.