Promised Escape

Promised Escape

He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

1 Corinthians 10:13

IN WORD In promising us everything related to life and godliness—in other words, everything—God has first taken care of the three biggest issues: salvation, sin, and temptation. All humans experience them in reverse order, first being tempted, then sinning, then accepting salvation. But God deals with them by saving us, forgiving our sin, and giving us a way out of temptation. His mercies undo the trouble we got ourselves into.

But while we are quick to embrace the benefits of salvation, and almost as quick to accept the ongoing forgiveness He offers, we are less diligent about addressing temptation. After all, if God has forgiven us and is going to continue to forgive us for everything we have ever done or ever will do, why should we get hung up on temptation? Whether we commit the sin or not, we’re forgiven, right?

We are, but that’s not the point. God has redeemed us for a new life, and temptation wars against that new life. When we give in to it, it threatens the blessings God wants to bestow on us, it undermines our process of conforming to Jesus, and it slanders the One who says He saved us and cleansed us of all unrighteousness. Giving in to temptation makes a statement about the power of the God we serve. It calls into question His ability to keep His people.

God’s power is not insufficient, of course. The fault lies entirely with us. He has given us a way out of temptation every single time. He will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.

IN DEED Most of us will have a dual reaction to this promise. We will be comforted that we never have to be overwhelmed by temptation. We will also be exposed every time we claim we were overwhelmed by it. God’s promise gives us a way out, and it also holds us accountable. That’s both encouraging and convicting. In either case, it’s a call to a purer, more godly life—with a promise to help us in it.

When Satan finds the good man asleep, then he finds our good God awake.

—WILLIAM GURNALL