Overcoming Bad Habits and Addictions — Part 3
Choice is a powerful thing. God gives us the power of choice and allows us to use the power of choice to direct our lives, for good or bad. If we use our power of choice to direct our lives down a destructive path, God will not take away our power of choice. He will never violate our free will.
If we choose to give in to lust and sin and allow bad habits and addictions to continue in our lives, God gives us free will to pursue those things. He will not violate our freedom to choose.
Our mistake would be to think that, because God allows us to do something, then “it must be no big deal. I can still continue this bad habit and, at the same time, enjoy all the good things that God promises.” That is a lie.
Thousands of Israelites were on a journey to experience the Promised Land that God had prepared for them. Many of them didn’t make it because of their choices.
“Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
“These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,* or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, ‘The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.’ And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.*
*“Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. *These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”—1 Corinthians 10:5-13 (NLT)
When you first experience temptation, God may speak to you through your conscience to warn you not to give in to the temptation, just as God spoke to Cain, warning him about the critical choice he was facing:
“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”—Genesis 4:7 (NLT)
When we experience temptation, what we don’t realize is that we have just entered a battle for control of our lives. Often this temptation comes when we are at a weak point. We may be tired, hungry, lonely, or just relaxed and caught off guard. Ready or not, temptation hits us at the worst possible times. If we do not immediately reject it and resist it successfully, as God said to Cain, “Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”—Genesis 4:7 (NLT)
That moment of initial temptation is crucial. How we respond in that moment could determine the course of our lives, as it did for Cain in a disastrous way.
”Just One Time Won’t Hurt”
The battle to overcome bad habits and addictions is a battle against lies. One of the major lies that temptation speaks to you is that “just one time won’t hurt.”
Cemeteries are filled with the bodies of those who overdosed on drugs, believing that “just one time won’t hurt.”
Cain’s life was completely destroyed by just one act of anger and jealousy. (Genesis 4:10-14)
Judas also threw away his future with just one act. He felt so much regret that he took his own life. (Matthew 27:35)
Reuben lost his rightful blessing as the firstborn son because of one act of immorality. Because of this, the Messiah could not come through his family line.
“But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall not excel or have the preeminence [of the firstborn], Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah]; You defiled it—he went up to my couch.”—Genesis 49:4 (AMP)
Simeon and Levi also disqualified themselves and brought a curse upon their families through a single act of anger. Because of this, the Messiah passed from their family line to the family of Judah, the next-born.
“Simeon and Levi, you are brothers, each a gruesome sword. I never want to take part in your plans or deeds. You slaughtered people in your anger, and you crippled cattle for no reason. Now I place a curse on you because of your fierce anger. Your descendants will be scattered among the tribes of Israel.”—Genesis 49:5-7 (CEV)
Esau thoughtlessly gave up his rights as the first-born son in a moment of weakness. Even though he regretted his actions later, the consequences could not be undone.
“That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
“For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.”—Hebrews 12:16-17 (AMPC)
And of course, Adam and Eve brought death to the entire human race by giving in, just once, to temptation.
When temptation comes to you, realize that “just this one time” means everything in the battle for control of your life. You can set either set your life on a course toward destruction, as Samson did, or you can resist, overcome, and gain new power to live a clean life and fulfill your destiny!
*“When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.”—Luke 4:13-14 (NLT) *
When Jesus successfully overcame temptation, even though he was at a very weak point after having gone without food for several days, He gained a whole new power to accomplish the purpose of His life. So can you! Every time you overcome temptation, you gain new power to live a clean life and accomplish what you were born to do! Saying “NO” to even the smallest temptations pays off for you in big ways!
*“Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.”—Proverbs 13:6 (NKJV) *
