I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love chocolate. Dark chocolate.

I find that once I eat just a small piece of chocolate one day, I’ll want another piece the next day.  And the next day. And soon I find that one piece of chocolate isn’t enough. Then the day arrives when I convince myself that a second piece won’t hurt me. I can always go back to one chocolate tomorrow. That’s what I tell myself. But somehow when tomorrow comes, I get pulled into eating two pieces again. And then, over the next few weeks the number of chocolate pieces I eat each day continues to increase until it’s unhealthy. I’ve lost control, and I know it.

I can go for weeks or months without eating any chocolate, but the day I decide I “need” even one piece I start down a slippery slope. I don’t always go over the edge, but far too many times I have. I end up feeling like I can’t help myself, all the while knowing I can. I didn’t even need to start down the chocolate path, but I did.

That’s what happens when we don’t resist the urge to sin. If we’re not diligent, what started out as one small white lie will over time morph into a web of deceit that can’t be easily untangled. And then somehow we eventually find ourselves in a lifestyle of lies and deceit and sinfulness that has no easy way out.

So, I must ask. Is that first sin really worth it? And I also have to ask. Is sin really resistible? What does the Bible say?

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:7-8

One step to resisting sin that isn’t discussed much is this. We have to make an effort not to sin. God is a God of miracles, but we must also do our part. He won’t stop us from sinning, but he can help us stop it. Sometimes it takes a lot of strength to not give in to our sinful desires. And we don’t have to resist all on our own. The closer we are to God, the less appealing sin is. The desire lessens the longer we serve God and the more we strive to be like him.

We must avoid the places that provide strong temptations or people we know who will lead us down the wrong path. We must look in the other direction when we’re tempted to lust. We have to make the effort to avoid sin.

I find that when I cut off my chocolate supply, I eventually don’t even crave it. Then I stop buying it and chocolate no longer lives in my home. It no longer rules my life. But I know that the temptation can creep in again if I allow even one small bite.

The same thing can happen with sin. One small deviation from the path of sinless living can open us up to a much broader descent into an unholy life. 

---

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 10:12-13

---

Receiving God’s forgiveness and mercy doesn’t remove temptation or cause us to always obey. It takes a consistent and intentional choice each day to resist sin, until one day we realize sin no longer has control in our lives. Our relationship with God has grown mature enough that we choose him over everything else. Even over the things that once were so enticing.

One small bite of chocolate may not send me over the edge, but it will reawaken my taste buds to what I have been missing. The same goes with sin. One weak moment can open the floodgates of the “good” times sin used to bring. And we lose the grip on what we once held close.

God doesn’t expect perfection. He knows it’s humanly impossible. But he does expect obedience and the pursuit of sinless living. And that is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Do we even ask for his help?

There’s always the one thing we forget when we’re tempted to sin. Satan. He’s a deceiver. He will lead us to believe that eating that one bite of chocolate isn’t a bad thing. It actually tastes quite good. All the while knowing that one bite will lead to wanting more and more and more. And eventually, the slide is inevitable. We’re soon wallowing deeply in the vat of dark chocolate with no plans to leave.

But here’s the other thing we forget. We can say no. We can refuse to sin. When temptation is lurking around us, we can turn and walk the other way. We don’t put that chocolate bar in the grocery cart. We don’t even go down the chocolate aisle. We skip it altogether. And when we envision how good that first bite would be, we turn to something that will remove that temptation. We don’t have to give in.

I’m not saying that eating chocolate is sinful. I’m saying that anything that entices us to act in a way that displeases God is sin. That’s what we need to avoid. Even considering the possibility to act or think or speak in a way that moves us further from God should stop us in our tracks. We should immediately turn the other way and ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom in our choices. It is possible to resist temptation and sin. Is that your desire? I know it’s mine.