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Intemperance Corrupts Morals

In all ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most successful in corrupting mankind. Through intemperance, Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers. Thus it becomes impossible for people to appreciate things of eternal worth. Through sensual indulgence, Satan seeks to blot from the soul every trace of likeness to God. HH 48.3

Christ declares that before His second coming, the condition of the world will be like it was in the days before the Flood, and like it was in Sodom and Gomorrah. We should understand clearly the lesson of the Savior’s fast. We can only estimate the evil of unrestrained indulgence when we see the inexpressible anguish Christ endured. Our only hope of eternal life is through bringing our appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God. HH 48.4

In our own strength, it is impossible to deny the urges of our fallen nature. But by passing over the ground we must travel, our Lord has prepared the way for us to overcome. He would not have us be intimidated and discouraged. “Be of good cheer,” He says, “I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. HH 48.5

Anyone who is struggling against the power of appetite should look to the Savior in the wilderness of temptation. See Him in His agony on the cross, as He exclaimed, “I thirst.” His victory is ours. HH 48.6

“The ruler of this world is coming,” said Jesus, “and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Nothing in Him responded to Satan’s deceptive reasoning. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. It may be this way with us as well. Christ’s humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to grasp firmly onto the divinity of Christ, so that we may reach perfection of character. HH 48.7

Christ has shown us how to accomplish this. By what means did Christ overcome Satan? By the Word of God. “It is written,” He said. And every promise in God’s Word is ours. See 2 Peter 1:4. When temptation strikes, look to the power of the Word. All its strength is yours. See 17:4; 17:4. HH 49.1