Reflection and Awe Lent Series - Jesus’ 40-Day Fast in the Wilderness: The Last Temptation

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”(Matthew 4:8-10 ESV)

As we journey through Lent, we reflect on Jesus’ time in the wilderness, a season of fasting, prayer, and testing that mirrors our own spiritual preparation for Easter. In today’s Scripture, we encounter the third temptation, where Satan offers Jesus power, glory, and riches in exchange for worship. This scene gives us reasons to examine our priorities and desires for worldly success.

If ever there was a period of history when identity and ambition were at the forefront of popular society, it is now. All we need to do is look through our newsfeeds or switch on our televisions to see people searching and seeking for who they are, while others clamor for hope, meaning, and significance in their fame and even infamy.

We are so often pulled away from our relationship with Christ by the “unholy” trinity of me, myself, and I. When we make it all about us and building our empires, we lose sight of the big picture of His kingdom. We often see money, power, and influence as the dream—the key things that create or mark success.

But at what cost?

Mark 8:36-37 says it like this, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” (ESV)

Jesus reminds us to keep the main thing the main thing. Worldly success may come and go, or even may never come at all. The adulations and adoration of man will not be greeting us when we enter eternity. Wouldn’t you prefer to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? (Matthew 25:23)

Perhaps this is a good way to circle back to the beginning of our Lent journey and remember the declaration we made on Ash Wednesday. From dust we came and to dust we shall return—a reminder that, like Isaiah 40:8 says, 

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (ESV)

Lord, we ask that You remind us that we are part of a kingdom, Your kingdom. Help us see that success is not based on earnings, popularity, or influence but simply on the fact that we are Your children. Lord, keep our eyes focused on You. Keep our hearts turned to Your ways, and help us build things in life that will outlast this world. Make us aware when we start building our own empires in the kingdom of “I,” and help us realign ourselves to Your lordship in our lives.

Amen.

You can access all of the Reflection and Awe: Lent's Purpose series here.