The first temptation that beset man on this earth was in the line of appetite.
"When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, ... she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat," (Genesis 3:6) although she had an abundance without it. It was not good for food, and she had no need of it; but she took it simply because she wished to please and gratify herself.
Christ came into the world, the new Man, the second Adam; and the first recorded temptation that came to Him was also in the line of appetite. But how different the circumstances! He was famishing, and that which was offered Him was food of the simplest kind. If the stones had been turned to bread at His command, they would have made good bread, and He was sorely in need of it; but He would not take any, because He came not to please and gratify himself.
What a contrast! The first man took that which he did not need, simply to please self, and died; the second Man refused that which He did need, because He would take nothing except from the hand of the Father, and would not please himself alone, and He is alive for evermore. (Revelation 1:18)
Why was this? It was to show us the wonderful redemption that there is in Christ Jesus. He denied himself that which was lawful, in order that we might be delivered from the power of that which is unlawful. By refusing even that which is good, He demonstrates His power in the flesh to deliver us from the evil.
But that does not state the whole case. He imparts to us the same power and the same mind, so that we ourselves may have the same mastery over self. It is not good for any person in this world to have everything he desires, even though his desires be lawful, and for that which is not injurious. For the sake of others, yea, even for our own sake, it is often necessary for us to refrain from things good in themselves. This is complete victory over the world,--the flesh,--to be complete master of self. He who can at will deny himself that which he knows is good, can more easily abstain from that which is evil, than the man can who indulges himself.
This does not mean asceticism or doing penance. The Lord does not wish us to keep ourselves on the rack. He wishes us always to be happy.
"Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:11)
The necessities and distresses that we undergo for Christ's sake must be a pleasure, else there is no profit in them.
"Christ pleased not himself," (Romans 15:3) yet He found delight in doing and suffering the will of the Father. The great end is to be conquerors, and even "more than conquerors." (Romans 8:37)
"All things are lawful, but all things are not expedient," (1 Corinthians 6:12) and we must not be the servant of any. The child of God is not to be under the law but above it. This does not mean, as too many suppose, a disregard for the law, and ignoring of it; far from it. It is just the opposite of it. One is above it only in the sense that he is in the heavenly places, reigning with God, the Giver of the law. He is not bound by the law, but is loyal to it, as if himself were the giver of it, and zealous that its honor shall be maintained.
So instead of being compelled by the law to do what it commands, he acts as the maker and enforcer of the law, compelling his body to yield perfect obedience to it, and taking the keenest, sweetest delight in exercising his authority over the flesh, and seeing it submit to the law.--Present Truth, July 4, 1901--Original title: Back Page--Genesis 3:6.
E.J. Waggoner