In three different ways, you will remember, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness; and every time Jesus said, “It is written,” and quoted a Scripture showing the right way. So all through His life on earth Jesus lived by the Word of God, and it was His defense. He is our example, and if every time we are tempted to do wrong we will but stop and think of what God says, and listen in faith to His words, we shall be made strong to escape the temptation. But if we are to have a word from the Lord ready as a shield every time temptation comes we must study the Bible and know what God says. The following story is told of a lad whom his companions once tried to get into a public-house [what we would call a tavern today] to take a drink. Notice how truly the tempter confesses the reason why he could not get the lad to do wrong:—

“Oh, no, I can’t go in there,” said John, when one of the boys invited him.

“Well, why?”

“Well, the Bible says, look not upon the wine when it is red,”—much less drink it.

The bad boy said: “I know the Bible says that, but come in and take one drink.”

He replied, “I cannot do that.”

“Well, why?”

“Because my Bible says, ‘At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.’”

“Yes, I know the Bible says that; but come in and have one drink.”

“No,” he said, “my Bible says, ‘If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’”

The bad boy turned off and left, and went over to his companions; and they said:—

“Did you see him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you get him to drink?”

“No, I could not get him into the house.”

“Why?”

“Because,” replied the bad boy, “that fellow was just as chock-full of the Bible as he could be, and I could not do anything with him.”

The Present Truth – October 28, 1897
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf  Meeting Temptation