Trusted With A Prison Series

Moses had much the same attitude about his choices. Remember what the writer of Hebrew said about Moses? “He chose to be identified with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” Just like Joseph, Moses resisted temptation and thought long-term about his choices. He knew that pain with God was a better choice than pleasure without God.

You see, Joseph made the choice of maturity: he endured short-term pain for long-term gain. Too often in our culture, however, the opposite happens – people make short-term decisions to enjoy pleasure/avoid pain and end up with very destructive long-term consequences. Ironically, they find themselves in a “prison” made by their own pursuit of pleasure, living life without God and void of any real meaning or purpose. Let’s learn a lesson from Joseph: even if the consequences of resisting sin mean short-term pain, it is worth it in the long run!

Interestingly, I don’t think Joseph considered himself imprisoned at all! Sure, Joseph’s location was jail; but his disposition was one of joy! And eventually he found himself in the same kind of place he was before the false accusation and improper imprisonment: not in prison, but in charge! And isn’t that like God? What looked like a bum-wrap on the outside was actually just another opportunity for God to entrust something greater into Joseph’s care: an entire prison. What an opportunity! But he would never have had that privilege if he had given in to the momentary sexual pleasure of intercourse with Potiphar’s wife. (Truth is, I tend to think he would have forfeited his life, for Potiphar probably would have done more than imprisoned Joseph had he actually caught them in the act; he more than likely would have killed both Joseph and his wife!)

Guess what? THIS SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IS HAPPENING TO YOU RIGHT NOW! That’s right – many of you are being tested and tempted, and Satan is hoping he can lure you away from God’s preferred future for you. No doubt God wants to increase your impact and give you greater opportunities to advance his kingdom and move forward with his purposes. But Satan knows that as well, and he is also after you. There is no doubt, both biblically and practically, that you are in his cross-hairs! That’s why Peter said we are to remain sober and vigilant because Satan is prowling around looking for someone to devour (2 Peter 5:8). And Paul said Satan often charades as an angel of light in order to deceive those within the church (2 Corinthians 11:14). My brothers and sisters, we are under an all-out attack by the enemy, and his goal is to plunge you towards a life of unfaithfulness and untrustworthiness by pulling you into the rocks of sin and vice. He’s the soul’s wrecker, and he will pillage your life and plunder your family till there is no hint of spiritual sanity or sanctity left to your name.

SO LET ME WARN YOU AGAIN: THIS VERY PROCESS IS HAPPENING TO MAY OF YOU EVEN AS I SPEAK! This week, all of us will be tempted in some way: