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Everything You've Ever Wished For

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."            
1 Corinthians 10:13

Augustus Gloop.  Violet Beauregarde.  Veruca Salt.  Mike Teavee.  Charlie Bucket.  Do these names sound familiar?

If you recognize them, then you are either a product of the 70s or 80s, or have parented a child during those years.  These are the names of the five winners of the Willy Wonka Golden Tickets from the children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl.  If you're like me, you're more familiar with its quirky musical adaption into a movie entitled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

I had never watched that movie through a spiritual lens until recently.  I believe it was prompted by having read a statement on Facebook that garnered my attention.  It said:

"The Devil doesn't come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns.  He comes as everything you've ever wished for."

For the children in the movie, they were presented with what appeared to be everything they could have ever wished for.  Unfortunately for them, they had to learn the hard way that everything we wish for might not necessarily be everything we need.
  • For the chubby, over-indulgent Augustus Gloop, his temptation and demise came in the form of an enticing chocolate river. 
  • For the obsessive-compulsive and competitive gum chewer Violet Beauregarde, she was tempted by an untested piece of miracle gum. 
  • For the spoiled brat, Veruca Salt, her desire for more stuff eventually took her down -- way down. 
  • Mike Teavee's infatuation with watching television literally reduced him to practically nothing.
  • Even the honest and humble Charlie Bucket was tempted to sneak off by himself and try something that his sheltered and impoverished life would have never afforded him to try.
You don't have to have ever seen this movie or read the book to understand the spiritual application that we can take away from it.  We all have something in our lives that has the potential to cause us to stumble and fall.  If we're like the children in the movie, then the things that we have the most affection for could actually be what brings us down.

Perhaps you are tempted by food, or maybe certain beverages, like Augustus.  Or maybe your temptation comes from a less obvious source like financial security or professional success.  For others, their temptation comes from an insatiable desire to find approval in the eyes of their fellow man.  Or maybe "stuff" is a temptation for you. . . bigger, better, newer, faster, shinier stuff!

Whatever your personal weakness is, it's very likely that it is inherently a good thing that the devil wants to use for evil.  See, financial security is a great thing to attain, but whenever it keeps you from being benevolent and generous to others, the devil has won.  Feeling loved and appreciated by others is a very natural desire, yet the devil wants us to find our worth based on the approval of others, not from God.  And having "stuff" isn't bad, unless the stuff has you.  Then it's a victory for the devil.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that we are going to be tempted.  We shouldn't question "if" we'll be tempted, but rather when and how the temptation will come.  The temptation that we experience today is no different than what Paul experienced nearly 2000 years ago, or even what Jesus Himself experienced.  Being tempted is not a sin.  It's an opportunity.  When we're tempted, we have the opportunity to make the choice as to whether we will yield to the temptation or stand up against it.  

The most comforting part of our focal verse is the reminder that GOD IS FAITHFUL!  His loving eyes see every single time we're faced with the opportunity to fall prey to the devil's snares.  But our God not only sees it, He tries to help us out of it.  The last thing He wants to see is one of His children being pulled down by the devil. Therefore, if we will pay close attention and heed His help, God will provide us an "out".

Each of the children in the movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory were offered an "out" before their temptation became disastrous for them.  However, they were consumed with their obsession and had trouble hearing the warnings that were being given.  We, too, can be so overcome with the pursuit of healthy ambitions that we fail to recognize God's provision for an "out".  Our failure to heed God's help is when our healthy pursuit turns dangerous.

What's your chocolate river or miracle gum? What has the ability to bring you much happiness, yet when gone unchecked it could actually bring you down?  Being honest with yourself and identifying your temptations is the best way to be able to keep them in check.

Remember, don't be on the lookout for a evil looking man in a red cape with a pitchfork and pointy horns. Try looking deep in your heart to see what it is your heart desires the most.  More than likely you'll find the devil nearby!






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