FORT STEWART, Ga. - "I can resist anything but temptation" (Oscar Wilde).
I once discovered a box near the coffee pot in our brigade.
I peeked into this box and to my delight, there was a Cinnabon smothered in icing all by itself. It looked lonely so what was I to do? I didn't need the calories but it was so tempting. I rescued the Cinnabon, got a cup of coffee, and enjoyed every bite. I didn't even feel guilty because after all it wasn't my fault.
There were plenty of reasons why I was not to blame. I am only human. I can't help myself. God made me this way, so it's God's fault. Also, I was raised to enjoy sweets so it's my parents' fault. Besides, maybe I have a Cinnabon addiction. Whoever bought that box should have never left it where I could be tempted, so it's their fault. Some skinny Soldier should have cared enough about their chaplain's health, to have eaten the last Cinnabon for my wellbeing.
So, it is their fault too. Everyone else eats Cinnabons so it must be okay for me. The blame really is with Cinnabon because if they hadn't made it so tasty, I wouldn't have been tempted in the first place. Maybe I should consult JAG. Ultimately, the devil made me eat it so it's the devil's fault!
Understand my Cinnabon parable?
Far too often we make excuses for our sin instead of admitting our guilt and receiving God's grace and forgiveness. As a chaplain and as a Christian who also struggles with temptation, I have heard every excuse imaginable and even used a few of them myself.
Just as in the Garden of Eden when Adam blamed God and Eve for his sin, we often make the same mistake today. We can blame God for making us this way. We can blame our Family background or our past. We can say that we are only human and made a mistake. We can blame everyone and everything else, including the devil for our sin, but it really doesn't matter.
God doesn't buy it and He isn't impressed with our excuses. Our sin is always our fault and ours alone.
While we can be tempted, influenced, weakened, or even encouraged to do wrong, ultimately we can only blame ourselves. The good news is that when we admit our sin, accept full responsibility for our sin and confess it to God, then and only then do we find God's grace and complete forgiveness.
We also can find God's strength to help us to overcome the temptation the next time it comes our way.
So, when you find yourself resisting everything but temptation, don't make excuses. Confess it to God and let Him help you start over, grow stronger and be victorious the next time. Who knows, it might even work for the chaplain the next time he is confronted with a Cinnabon craving!
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