James 1:14 (NLT)
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

James, the half brother of Jesus teaches where the temptations in our life come from. Temptation comes from our own desires. While Satan is called the tempter there is no one to blame but ourselves when we are drawn away by our own lusts, because the true origin of temptation comes from our hearts. If we do not take care our desires will pull us away from God and lead us straight to sin.

If we knew where a thief would enter our home; would we take precautions to thwart those efforts? The most common entry points are through the front door or a first floor window. Those would be easy guesses for most of us. Why smash a window and risk cuts if the front door can be forced open? Why take a ladder to climb in the second floor window when the first floor is easily available. Yet a research study for State Farm showed many people seem to not think about those possibilities:

Left windows open: 49 percent
Left front door unlocked: 37 percent
Left back door unlocked: 33 percent
Hid key outside: 26 percent
Left inside garage open: 22 percent

The temptation of sin is much the same way. We know where sin may come from because there is not a temptation that is not common to us all. Yet knowing there are temptations awaiting us we don’t prepare for them. Instead we leave the window of opportunity open. We leave the doors unlocked to our heart that allow those temptations wander in. Temptation is not a sin, but is common to all man. Knowing temptation exists we should closely guard ourselves and watch out for those entry points where sin may choose to enter.