by Bishop-elect Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr.
“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 you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. God has a promise that is available for you, and that is His faithfulness. God has promised you and I new life in Christ as we live this life to please Him not man,” 1 Corinthian 10:13.
“Therefore if any person be in Christ, is a new creature [new person] old things [the old man] are passed away; and behold, all things [the new man] become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
New life, new mindset, new will, a new desirer, and a new place in life. When life hurts (and it will) and doesn’t make sense, it’s God who is ever present who comforts us in our grief and sorrow. He is faithful, not because of the good things He gives us, but He is faithful because He promises to keep His word to His people.
“God will make this happen for you, for He who calls you is faithful,” 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
So when we are going through hard times, God will always give us a way of escape. He will not allow us to be tested or tempted beyond our ability to resist. If we fall prey to sin, it is simply because we did not remember His faithfulness. We don’t remember to look or search for the way out that God has promised to provide. God cares about our affairs and is interested in our well-being. God doesn’t want us to be overcome by sin, but He wants you and I to win the battles that we face daily in life.
God is not trying to temp you, for He himself tempts no one.
James 1:13
“When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”
It’s the enemy that tempts us to fall when God will is to uphold us. The problem is, when we are faced with temptation, we don’t look for the escape route.
The Escape Route is the Holy Spirit.
I will give you the Holy Spirit the helper, the Paraclete, the advocate, and the counsellor as a backup or a way of escape. You have the Holy Spirit as a backup route that we can take when we are on dangerous roads. The Holy Spirit is here to prevent you from injury or danger. So why is it that when we are faced with danger we do not call on the Holy Spirit? Is it that we enjoy our secret sin too much, and we don’t truly want God’s help? Each temptation that you face or experience as a Christian, its common to man and God wants to help you escape. He wants to help you find new life in Him but you most want it if you want away out. What do you want?
