By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
Every aircraft has emergency exits, and all buildings are built with more than one door in case of a fire. Similarly, our Lord ensures an escape route comes with every temptation to sin.
There are several vital truths in this passage which are well worth pondering…
- My enticements to sin are not unique. Much as I might like to think I’m an exception, I’m not. Just as fish over the centuries have been caught by the same kinds of bait, other people face similar allurements as I do.
- Every time I am enticed to sin, there is a way out. I never HAVE to sin. My God faithfully makes sure there is ‘a way to escape.’ Sinning is NOT my only option.
- With God’s enabling grace, I can bear it. As Spurgeon put it, ‘The Lord will not try us too much, too long, or too often.’
- Therefore, I never need to pity myself, despair, give up resisting, or resign myself to defeat. Instead I must flee through that escape door.
Father, thank You for these reassuring truths from Your Word. I especially thank You for being faithful to ensure that my attractions to sin never overwhelm me. When I find a sin appealing to my flesh, help me to find the escape route which You have faithfully provided. Give me strength to flee every alluring idol. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.