WAYS OF ESCAPE (1)

“GOD is FAITHFUL, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the WAY of ESCAPE…” – 1 Corinthians 10:13b

Irrespective of the severity of the situation, GOD makes WAYS OF ESCAPE from diverse temptations for His people: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but GOD is FAITHFUL, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the WAY of ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it” (1Cor.10:13). God oversees every temptation that we encounter, and He always makes a Way of Escape – an exit route – for His children; hence we can overcome every enticement. We are assured that God is in control and will provide a way to Victory. He will never allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist, and always provides an escape route.

Our temptation is not unique, although Satan will want to make us feel like no one has ever been in our situation; that no one knows how we feel or the difficult choices we have to make. That’s a lie! Others have faced the same temptations and trials and conquered. We can too. But we must realise that we have a limited window of opportunity to say NO between the beginning of temptation and the commission of sin. God is faithful in every temptation! He is there. His power is available. His strength is abundant. His grace is sufficient.  He will ensure that we are never put in a situation that we must sin. It may feel like we don’t have a choice or that it’s too late, and we might as well sin, but we don’t have to. We can always say NO. There is a way of escape from temptation. If we look for it, we’ll find it, because God is faithful!

A few metaphors should help. Before an air flight takes off, the flight attendants would indicate the location of exit doors. Also, posted behind every hotel room door is the fire escape plan, which is usually a map of how to get to the closest exit. In an emergency, one should know the swiftest escape way. Moreover, modern highways often feature a series of exits. Anyone who while driving on an interstate missed an exit can lose much time when exits are far apart. Just as vehicles need an escape route from a highway, we need “a way of escape” when intense desires threaten our spiritual well-being. When we are on Temptattion Lane, heading head-long toward sin and destruction, God will provide an exit. It’s up to us to take it.  

God empowers us to say “No” to enticement through the power of His Word. Jesus conquered Satan’s temptations to sin by quoting the Word (Dt.6:16, 8:3; Mt.4 4-10). When we are tempted, we may feel like disaster is near. Memories of past failure can intensify this feeling. However, we can trust God who is faithful to provide a way for us to resist sin’s allure. An escape plan or way is however no good unless it’s followed. Often, the best way of escape is to simply flee or leave: “flee from idolatry” (v.14). When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, he ran so fast that he left his coat (Gen.39:12). Paul counselled young Timothy to flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). God’s Word and Spirit will point the way out of temptation, but we must have our spiritual eyes and ears open to follow. To wait too long is to miss the exit and sin.

When we are tempted, God would have us say NO! That’s No.1 escape. We must not ignore the still small voice within. Rather than fantasize the sin, weigh the pleasure versus the consequences, or consider options, let’s just say NO!  The longer we tarry in temptation, the odds of committing sin increase. God says: “Don’t do it. Take the exit”! Where there are besetting sins, let’s plead for Mercy, and God will break the chains, deliver us from them, and show us the Way of Escape.