O child, if you are preparing to serve the Lord God, ready your spirit for trials: manage your heart, practice patience, and do not become disheartened during your guidance: cling to it and do not lose hope, so that you may persevere in the end. Those gathered here to the Husbandman, who diligently labored for the Lord God during their time, have received from Him a reward so abundant that for many centuries He has been sharing from its wealth with all who are genuinely in need and humble in their requests. They have come together, certainly, to seek help and guidance from Him as they strive to serve the Lord God, aspiring to receive the gift of salvation and joy. Those who have successfully navigated the early challenges of serving God and are already being drawn 'to the fulfillment' are entrusted to the direct, secret teaching of this wise Master, who communicates spirit to spirit, and to the anointing of the Spirit of God, which 'teaches' them 'all things.' Since our own weaknesses are entrusted with the duty of upholding the truth, having received the blessing of this Strength through words and deeds, we will direct our modest words to those who, like us, are still engaged with the 'elementary teachings about Christ'; they may have begun long ago, but many do not feel fully prepared for the salvific work ahead. And here we present not our unreliable thoughts, but the established teaching of a wise mentor: ‘Child, if you begin working for the Lord God, prepare your soul for temptation.’ This counsel, which may be unwelcome to many, is often distressing. Some might think that those who commit to serving God should anticipate great endeavors, not difficult challenges, and more so, comfort, joy, and bliss. Indeed, this hope is valid, and we must hold tight to it; however, it is essential to recognize that on the path to reward and joy, amidst the arena of trials, temptation frequently arises, and at times, this encounter is unavoidable. ‘If thou art about to work for the Lord God, prepare thy soul for temptation.’
What is “temptation”? It is a trial; it reveals what qualities are present—what strengths, what flaws may be subtly hidden within. The word of God itself elucidates this: ‘As silver and gold are refined in the furnace, so the chosen heart is tested by the Lord.’ An appearance of gold may be true gold, a mix, or something worth nothing; in fire, gold is refined, impurities are eliminated, and fakes are brought to light. Similarly, a person's virtue may be genuine and steadfast, divinely crafted and unwavering in God’s power, or it may be blemished by motives of vanity, self-serving desires, or outright hypocrisy. Through the fire of temptation, true purity is enhanced, imperfections are purified, and deceit is revealed. Some may think that we conduct tests because we cannot see what is beneath the surface. Yet with God, who sees and understands all, what need is there for testing human hearts? Let those confused by this consider that even an artist subjects gold or silver to fire not merely to verify its purity but to isolate and reject what is flawed, ultimately obtaining a purer, stronger, and more valuable product. Thus, while God’s omniscient nature does not require testing hearts through elaborate trials, allowing temptation can ultimately be beneficial for humanity.
Through temptation, false and hypocritical virtues are called to account, stripping away harmful self-deception, paving the way for true contrition and restoration. Through it, false virtue can be refined into genuine purity, strength, and perfection, as it is said: ‘Let the holy one be hallowed still,’ so that according to Christ's promise, ‘the pure in heart shall see God,’ and ‘he who overcomes all shall inherit all things,’ securing the opportunity to join ‘the church of the firstborn in heaven, and of the righteous perfected in spirit.’ Ultimately, temptation can reveal the already refined faith, the perfected virtue, and the genuine divine love residing in the heart of man, concealed beneath humility and modesty, that it may be acknowledged, cherished, desired, and earnestly glorified by God, serving as a model for others.
As we refrain from diving into the deeper and more elevated types of temptation experienced by those already perfected or approaching perfection, such as when ‘God tested Abraham,’ regarding this matter we will focus on the more general, foundational temptations for which all who come forth to serve the Lord God must be ready. We acknowledge that meeting temptation, divinely intended as beneficial—though challenging—can, at times, be perilous, even enticing. There exists a harmful and insidious kind of temptation aimed at undermining virtue and igniting vice; it seeks to sow impurity, beginning with thoughts, flowing into desires, and ultimately culminating in actions that disturb and disarray the soul.
Those preparing to work for God should not overlook this—exercise caution; summon strength to counteract evil and goodness against wickedness. ‘Prepare your soul.’ For this, it is crucial to understand from whence such temptations arise. The holy Apostle James teaches: ‘Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.’ Some, in times of trial, claim, ‘God has laid temptation upon me,’ neglecting how this incites discord and unclean thoughts in their souls and leads them towards sin. No, St. James warns, do not fall asleep to the delusion that you are pursuing God because you have mistakenly labeled your troubling state as divine temptation; God, who is untouched by evil, inherently devoid of any blemish, does not lead anyone toward the vile enticements of temptation contrary to His goodness.
What, then, is the origin and nature of these temptations? The Apostle continues, ‘Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed; and when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.’ If such self-temptation springs from desires that are not yet sinful but are certainly capable of producing sin, the sources of temptation become quite apparent, as his fellow Apostle notes: ‘All that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father,’ adding, ‘but is of the world.’
It is important to clarify that the world, as God's creation, is not in itself an incubator for lust or a workshop of temptation; this was not the intent of the Wise Creator. Rather, it has become ensnared by the disobedience of the first humans at the ruinous hands of the devil, who serves as the chief ‘tempter,’ as described in sacred Scripture. If he dared to approach Jesus Christ in this way, in Whom there was absolutely no sin, yielding no ground for temptation, we must recognize that this infernal presence incessantly strives to goad every latent desire set afire, attempting to turn ‘everything in the world’ into kindling for unholy flames. How numerous are the triggers and occasions for temptation; how subtle they often are, yet how profound the danger involved!
It is unwise to be heedless; it is unwise to rely merely on luck; vigilance is essential; we must seek out safety measures; we must be prepared for defensive action; we must possess a mind and spirit ready to withstand the trials that will reveal our goodness, never conceding even momentarily to temptations steering us toward evil. Such readiness demands intention: if you genuinely aim to work for the Lord God, contemplate this with sincere focus and care; align your mind, align your heart. ‘Prepare your soul for temptation.’
You may wonder how to undertake this preparation. I will share further advice from my trusted guide. First, ‘Control your heart.’ Do not let your thoughts and desires run unchecked, like a ship without a captain, or a horse without reins. Govern them; direct your thoughts toward truth and your desires toward goodness. Restrain your thoughts and desires from vanity so that the wicked lusts do not instigate and plunge your soul into iniquity.
Second, ‘Be patient, and do not grieve during your guidance.’ Impatience and inconsistency serve as detrimental domestic adversaries to noble aspirations while fostering temptation. Indecision undermines the soul’s initial preparations; haste, acting without a sound base, invariably leads to ruin. Those who ‘remain steadfast during guidance’—especially in the trials of temptation—avoid rash actions, preserving themselves from missteps and gaining time to gather strength and seek assistance. ‘But he that endureth to the end,’ according to the eternal promise, ‘he shall be saved.’
Third, ‘Cling to Him and do not stray, that you may endure to the end.’ Let us not forget what the Apostle proclaimed: ‘God is not tempted by wickedness, nor does He tempt anyone.’ The more securely you adhere to Him, the more firmly you root your heart in Him: the safer you are from temptations that cannot breach God's fortress and shake you within Him. Should temptation, which does not come from God, ‘entice’ you with evil, disturb you, or provoke impure desires, seek refuge in God, and pray earnestly: ‘Heavenly Father! Lead us not into temptation.’ If you find that temptation, divinely permitted, reveals faults and weaknesses previously unnoticed or cultivates genuine humility within you, beseech Him: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’
Let us conclude with the encouraging words of the Apostle: ‘Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.’ Amen.
