2 Samuel 11: David and Bathsheba.
David was walking around one day-hanging out on the roof and saw this woman taking a bath, thought she was beautiful and asked someone to find out about her. The biblical Facebook stalk. Just like your friends come back and tell you all but a social security number and their last tetanus shot, this guy came back with some information too. She’s one of your friend’s daughters, her husband is in your army, he is away at war. Immediately he said go get her. She shows up, he sleeps with her, and she gets pregnant. I’m not going to go into the fire that this one particular sin lit… read the next two chapters if you’d like. I just wanted to give you this story…
Now. Temptation.
Temptation often has little to do with the tempting object, and everything to do with the state of heart and mind of the one being tempted. We do things we know are wrong. Instead of taking the time to think; instead we act on feelings, on impulses. The devil is quick, y’all. The pleasures of sin deceive us like a baited hook. What feels right at the time… eventually will feel like a disaster. It will be. 
We don’t think. David didn’t think. Careful thought over temptation reveals that the cost is so much greater than the chance.
His illicit pursuit of another mans wife lead to:

• An unwanted pregnancy
• The murder of a friend 
• A dead baby

That’s skimming the surface. One choice. One mistake. If you could see the consequences of your sin before you took that chance- would it change your mind? Why can’t we let our conscience be enough? Why do we have to get it wrong and feel how much it isn’t right later.. when that’s what our hearts told us the entire time?
God always gives us an escape from our sin. We don’t have to keep digging a hole. David committed adultery.. and instead of taking Gods escape, he also became a murderer.. digging deeper and deeper into sin, desperately trying to keep hidden what will always eventually come to light. For every good escape Jesus has provided, Satan has also prepared a way- his looks easier, prettier, better… but it’s not. All sin has consequences, therefore both paths will have some pain but I’d much rather suffer my consequences under the love and correction of Jesus (trust me, I have) than under the manipulative destruction of satans flowered path to hell. 
Temptation. It’s not what you think you want, it’s actually what you don’t have.
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set in what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Holy Spirit is life and peace” romans 8:5-6
A government only provides the way and a set of consequences for when you refuse that way.. but which way are you walking. Which punishment do you want. 
Love y’all,
Katie