The experience is common to all Christians in every nation, race, and culture. Failing to resist its appeal brought death to all people. It is not unique to humanity; Jesus also experienced this universal issue. We most often translate it into English—temptation. In German it is Versuchung; in Russian it is искушение; in Mongolian it is уруу таталт’; in Zulu it is isilingo; and I could list 75 more words from other languages, but you get the point. God hasn’t exempted any believer regardless of their gender, education, or even spiritual maturity from temptation.
When people hear the word temptation, they most often envision the allurement or seduction to sin with the promise of satisfying results. Scripture also translates the word, trial or testing in which man has a free choice of being faithful or unfaithful to God. The sentence context determines if we translate it temptation or trial. Remember temptations come from Satan but trials or test come from God. The Lord never tempts us to commit sin. He Himself does not tempt anyone (Jas 1:13). However, He does test us. The Lord tests hearts (Pro 17:3). My students never looked forward to exams, but I designed tests to show weaknesses in order to help them improve. Through the years, a few were carried away and enticed by their own lust, chose the devil’s temptation, and cheated. It is possible every student was tempted, but chose to remain faithful to God. I tested them so they knew how to improve; the devil tempted them for their destruction.
Temptation in itself is not sin. I’ve often heard the illustration that you can’t keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. John gives us the three sources that generate temptation. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1Jn 2:16). Eve, saw that the tree was good for food – the lust of the flesh. It was pleasant to the eyes– the lust of the eyes, and it was a tree to make one wise – the pride of life. Eve allowed the birds to land, build a nest, and lay eggs. Jesus faced the same scenario of temptations. However, He resisted with scripture and the birds couldn’t land. The pride of life lured the few students I caught cheating. They did not want to make a failing grade. The seduction for satisfying their pride resulted instead in disgrace.
When temptation comes and continues people may say, “I can’t bear this any longer,” “I have no other choice,” or “No one has ever faced this before.” Paul gives us an encouraging promise. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (1Co 10:13). Several key lessons come from this verse. First, your temptation is not unique. No new temptations exist. Every temptation people face is common to man. Second, God sets limits. He . . . will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. Third and the most encouraging, God guarantees the way of escape. With the temptation [He] will provide the way of escape. Note Paul doesn’t say ‘a’ way rather he uses the definite article ‘the’ way of escape. For every temptation or trial God has prepared the way out. It is not a random way but a deliberate prepared way.
The way of escape doesn’t mean we wake up one morning and the temptation has disappeared. It requires our participation. If we are on a sinking ship and the way of escape is a lifeboat, we have to run and get in. Day after day Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife’s temptation to lie with her and eventually he had to flee and run outside (Gen 39: 8, 10). Joseph didn’t wait for God to remove her; he refused her offer and ran. Moses choose rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Heb 11:25). Moses made a choice.
Sometimes we can avoid temptation by staying away from certain places and people. David should have been in the battlefield with his army. Instead, he stayed home and from his roof, he saw a very beautiful woman, Bathsheba, bathing. This gave Satan an ideal opportunity for tempting David. He could have taken his way of escape by refusing to look and choosing to go back in his room. From lust of his eyes came lust of his flesh ending in adultery and pride of life by killing her husband rather than be exposed for his sin.
Not only can we rest assured God has the way of escape prepared, we have these additional promises. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). Peter says the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation (2Pe 2:9).
One temptation believers often confront is to give up and quit, especially when there seems no way of escape. Remember these promises and keep going. God began a good work in you and He will finish what He began.
Sustaining Word for the Week: The way of escape for your temptation has been prepared. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your ability. Keep going and He will bring you through.