Fact
is that temptation and trial are closely related concepts. They are
materially the same, but they differ with respect to their aim and
motive. It is, perhaps, safe to say that for the people of God all
temptation is also a trial, and all trial is at the same time
temptation. Yet there is a good deal of difference between the two.
First of all, we may note that one cannot speak of trial with respect
to the wicked: for trial presupposes something good that is put to the
test and that is improved by the testing process. Gold and silver are
tried in order to purify them, to separate the foreign elements in them,
and to enhance the beauty of their lustre. But one does not test a lump
of clay or a piece of stone. So God's people are tried in as far as
they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, in
order that the power and beauty of the work of God's grace may become
manifest, and the trial of their faith may be to "praise and honor and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 1:7) But the wicked
cannot be tried, for the simple reason that there is no good in them.
They are tempted: for while trial aims at the bringing to light of the
beauty of the work of God's grace, temptation appeals to the sinful
nature. However, it will be evident that the very same means whereby the
people of God are tried also constitute for them temptations. What is a
trial of their faith is at the same time a temptation for their sinful
nature. When, for instance, a believer is threatened with the loss of a
profitable position in the world unless he in some way becomes
unfaithful and denies the his Lord, his faith is being tried. But the
same situation is an appeal to his sinful nature to deny Christ and keep
his position. It certainly was a fiery trial of their faith when in the
early believers were sometimes confronted with the choice of confessing
that Caesar was Lord or being thrown into a pot filled with boiling
oil. But again, this horrible alternative also was a temptation for
their flesh to bow the knee to Caesar and to deny the sole Lordship of
Christ.
But there is more difference between trial and
temptation. Trial always presents the truth; temptation is always a lie.
Temptation always presents the way of sin and iniquity, of backsliding
and unfaithfulness, of denying Christ and violating the covenant of God
as something desirable, as a good that is worth striving for, in fact,
as preferable to the way of obedience, righteousness, holiness, and
faithfulness to Christ. When God places the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil in Paradise and gives man the so-called probationary
command, He proves, He tries Adam. But He tells him the truth: "the day
that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Thus it always is. It
is never good, a thing to be desired, to walk in the way of iniquity, to
pursue after evil, to violate the Word of God and serve Mammon. But
when the devil tempts man in paradise, he presents the lie to him: "Ye
shall not surely die; ye shall be like God." And thus all temptation
makes use of the lie that there is a good apart from God, in the way of
sin. Temptation is moral, ethical deception. Trial deals with the truth.
Moreover, there is a fundamental difference in motive and purpose
between trial and temptation. Hatred of God, hatred of one another,
hatred of that which is good and delight in sin and corruption-- these
are the motives of all temptation. The purpose of the tempter is always
God's dishonor and your destruction. It makes no difference who it is
that assumes the role of tempter in regard to you. It may be your
husband or wife, your brother of sister, your dearest friend; in the
capacity of tempter he hates God and you and seeks your destruction.
When your best friend tempts you to depart from the way of truth and
righteousness and to follow after the lie and vanity, he is your enemy;
and you should not hesitate to say to him, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
But trial is motivated by love, aims at the showing forth of the beauty
of God's work of grace, and purpose your salvation. Temptation, then, is
that lying appeal to our sinful nature that is motivated by enmity
against God, His cause and His people, and aims at God's dishonor and
our destruction.
Herman Hoeksema
In the Sanctuary, pp. 90-92
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