I was a young Airman stationed in Turkey. As I walked into the NCO Club that first night I saw my new teacher. In fact, there was a whole wall of teachers lined up waiting. I heard about them but had never met one. They called me over. My first encounter or lesson was brief and seductive… “You can win!”

One night, a few months later, I knew it was my time to be the big winner. Yep, I started with the nickel machine. After I had pumped more money into the machine than the Jackpot would pay, I made the brilliant decision to go to the quarter machines where the prize money was greater. After a few rolls of quarters, I decided to adjust my strategy. I “talked” my buddy into “investing in the machine with me.” The more I talked to him, the more I believed my own lies. That night, 2 young men learned a real lesson. We both put our paychecks into that machine and walked away with nothing.

That “One-Armed” machine not only beat me, but it also humiliated me. All our buddies knew and laughed at us. Forrest Gump would have said, “Stupid is as stupid does.” But most of all I recognized how vulnerable I was. Everyone is vulnerable, Everyone.

If you don’t think you are vulnerable, then Pride has already set you up for the fall. Note: Pride, self-love, is about our glory, our feelings…what we want & need over everything else. Temptation appeals to our self-centeredness today just like it did with Adam & Eve.

We convince ourselves it’s OK… not too bad. Lies? Today our culture OK’s certain sins. Just like me at the slot machine, I believed my own lies while convincing my buddy, “The next coin is a winner.” We find some churches today picking and choosing what is and isn’t a sin. Only God has that authority. It’s all written in His Guidebook For Living, the Bible. No one has the authority to add or subtract from it. “I (Jesus) am telling everyone who hears the words that are written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written in this book, God will add to him the kinds of trouble that this book tells about. If anyone takes away any part of this book that tells what will happen in the future, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the Holy City, which are told about in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19

Being tempted is real. “Because Jesus was tempted as we are and suffered as we do, He understands us and He is able to help us when we are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) Praise God. So, how do I deal with temptation? First, do what Jesus did. In Matthew 4. Jesus responded to Satan’s temptations only with scripture. ““It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:6 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3; “Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Matthew 4:7 quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 and “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10 quoting Deuteronomy 6:13.

The “rock” anchor is God’s Perfect Word. In addition, there are Bible based recovery ministries, like Forever Free (https://forever-free.net/) that will guide and encourage you to a Joy filled relationship with the Father. Only Jesus can set you free.