Escaping temptation, 1 Cor. 10:13

 

 

WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

 

    God has promised a "way of escape" for every temptation (1Corinthians 10:13).  However, that's all God promises, i.e., a "way of escape." We have the responsibility to take the way He provides.

    This is nothing new. It has been this way from the beginning. God provided Adam and Eve with a way to live in the Garden Paradise forever. All they had to do was comply with one condition, "Don't eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" (Genesis 2:16-17). They didn't comply with the condition and were cast out.

    God told Cain and Able how to worship Him acceptably. Able did and his worship was accepted. Cain didn't and he was cursed of God.

    God provided a way of escape for Lot and his wife. However, there were certain conditions that had to be met in order to be saved from the coming destruction of Sodom. Lot complied and was saved. His wife didn't and was lost.

    God provided a way for the Israelites to escape their Egyptian bondage. However, certain conditions had to be obeyed. All who complied with the conditions were saved, and all who didn't were lost.

    God made possible a land "flowing with milk and honey" for the Israelites, but He gave them the conditions of faith and obedience. All but two adults disobeyed and died in the wilderness. The two who obeyed entered the promised land.

    God promised Samson supernatural strength as long as he obeyed certain conditions. Samson did not obey and lost his strength.

    Hundreds of examples could be cited from these accounts that have been "written for our learning" (Romans 15:4).

    "Our God changeth not" (Mal. 3:6). Today, He has given the world a way to be saved. It is the Gospel (Romans 1:16). We must obey the conditions of the Gospel or be lost (2Thess. 1:7-8).

    God's great love motivated Him to make salvation freely available to all mankind. We must demonstrate our love toward Him by obedience. "This is love, that we walk according to His commandments" (2John 6).

 

                                                            --Toby Miller