BRUISED, BUT NOT DEFEATED: How I Overcame Temptation on Valentine’s Day
“Phew! I made it. I overcame. Praise JESUS…”
Everything in me defied work that Thursday morning. It
wasn’t like I had a valentine or expected to receive any gift; but my kitchen begged
for help and I had chosen that day – a day of love for many, as a day of chores
for me. So, when the driver showed up that morning to take me to work, I
dismissed him. I had my own small-scale business, and I was the boss of me
anyway. Little did I know that the reality of “an idle man is the devil’s
workshop” was about to strike.
Isaac and I just started dating. You see, we have known each
other since we were eight, and we have been good friends since then, but not
until recently did we begin to get romantically attracted to each other. Like
the 27 year-old adults that we are, we had talked about it and realized that we
are each not ready for a committed relationship, so we thought it best to keep
our friendship kicking and our relationship with God alive, and dating to the
minimum. We made certain rules, the most important being not visiting with each
other in private places. We thought we were doing fine until I gave place to
the devil. Yes! I had given place to the devil by letting Isaac know that I was
staying home that day.
He pleaded with me to come spend the day at his, and I said
a blunt ‘NO’. He thought I was being lazy to get out of the house. While that
was one reason, that was definitely not the main reason for my refusal to go
see him. Anyway, so he volunteered to come over to mine, and to that request, I
again blurted out a firm ‘NO’. Of course, he was confused and nicely, I did
explain to him the reason for my decision, reminding him of our most important
rule. He said OK. And I was happy.
I reaffirmed my decision to myself and said “Yes! I did the
right thing. No! I will not go there. Satan cannot cheat me this time. Didn’t
the Bible say flee every appearance of evil?” Smiling to myself, I repeated, “Tumini,
you’ve done the right thing.” What I hadn’t considered is that while I
celebrated my victory as I “successfully” fled the appearance of evil, evil itself had borrowed an extra set of wings in
pursuit of my soul, and was determined to catch up with me.
Having read through my devotional, I finally got out of bed
at 10:00 am, brushed my teeth and headed for the kitchen to do some chores.
After all, that was my sole excuse for skipping work that day. I wasn’t ten
minutes in the kitchen when I heard a knock on the door. I quickly turned off
the faucet, wiped my wet hands on my cotton night dress (which I planned to put
aside for laundry), and ran to the door. And behold, it was Isaac! Out of
shock, I immediately closed the door.
‘What is going on?’ I wondered. ‘Does it mean that while I
celebrated my flight from evil’s appearance; while I blessed God in my heart
for helping me; while I raised wine glasses in the spirit with imaginary angels
to mark my success; while I patted myself on the back and gave myself a high-five
for a job well done, Isaac was busy being evil’s extra set of wings, and was
live at my door step?’
‘Wow!’ I thought, ‘this has come to me, and I must deal with
it. Oh God, help me’. I opened the door for him and gave him a sensational hug.
I really didn’t want to let go. Oh yeah, Jesus was right – the spirit is
willing but the flesh is weak.
I finally did let go, and headed off to the kitchen. He
stayed with me about a minute or two and went into my bedroom to settle himself
in front of my computer. I felt a little victorious – like a bruised wrestler
who still had the upper hand in a match. At least, I was badly dressed, and
doing dirty work, nothing can be attractive about me, right? Haha... Wrong!
I got done doing my work and went into the bedroom to meet
him. I drew a stool from the front of my piano and sat beside him, then the
touching and holding began. Uncomfortable, I stood up to go take a shower and
dress up properly. I thought, “Well, this wrestler is wounded now, but I’m
still doing alright, right?” Well…………………………
I took a shower, dressed up, went back into the bedroom
where he was, and this time took over the computer and acted really busy. Bad
mistake! I have now learned that it is more profitable to spend your time
discussing and doing reasonable things with your significant [or, as in this
case will-like-to-be-significant] other than to not do anything. Feeling
neglected, Isaac drew the piano stool closer and began touching my left arm,
and then my face, and then my other arm, and then my belly, and then my back
and I was just getting stirred up and stirred up inside – somewhere; and because
I didn’t want to embarrass him and I was enjoying it [in a way], I did not stop
him – rather, I reciprocated in similar kind.
My conscience pricked and pricked me until I thought my soul
was going to burst out of my body. I quickly stood up, as if in urgency. I left
the bedroom and went into the bathroom. After a couple minutes, I went back into
the bedroom. This time, I sat on the bed. My mood had changed, and rather than
admire the guy that sat close to me, I felt disgusted.
I had just one option. I needed to pray. So while I sat
down, angry at myself, and silently mad as hell at Isaac, I talked to God. We
both needed his help to deal with each other in this non-relationship that was
turning into something else. Isaac noticed my mood, and out of concern, he
sought to know what was going on with me. He came beside me again and was
already lying on my bed, using my leg as his pillow. I looked at him, knowing
what I was about to do, I felt pity for him. I really really like this guy; I
didn’t want to hurt him, but to save our souls (James 1:21), I had to hurt him
and hurt me (maybe). He is my very good friend, I love him, but I love my [and
his] salvation more. I love God even more, and now understanding what Christ
had done to save me, I was not going to compromise any longer.
I tapped Isaac on his shoulder and said boldly, firmly, and
seriously “get up and leave!” At first, he was shocked, but thought I was just
kidding. When he saw the seriousness in my looks, he stood up and headed for
the door, while I followed closely behind him. I saw him off past the door and
the burglary proof. After I had locked the burglary proof, just before he left,
I told him how sorry I was. The hurt and disappointment in his eyes almost made
me change my mind; but I was too determined to do the right thing even though
it will cost us our friendship.
Finally he left. I entered into the house, and sat on the
couch in the anteroom. ‘Phew’ I thought ‘Bruised, but not defeated’.
Isaac and I have since resolved the issue OVER THE PHONE, of
course; and he agreed never to come see me alone again. You know, I thought
that he’d get angry and not want even friendship with me anymore. I was wrong.
He even respects me the more. Earlier today, being a day after valentine’s, he
came to see me at work and gave me two bars of chocolate and a snack… Whether
it was for valentine’s or not, I don’t know and I didn’t ask. If it was for
valentine’s, I don’t think it was too late. After all, some people in other
parts of the world were spending their last hours of valentine’s on the morning
of the 15th day of February in my part of the world.
A preacher once said, relationships produce power and the
devil will fight any relationship that will work against his kingdom. It’s so
true.
Remember that as you flee every appearance of evil, you also
have to rebuke the devil so he can flee from you too.
