Which Way of Escape?
By Aaron Beard

With practicing medicine, it is not in the classroom where one gains his expertise and experience, but rather in the field.  That very reason is why interning is so very important.  It is the exact same way with our spiritual lives and service to God.  When we step outside of the walls where the local church assembles and out of our homes where we engage in private Bible study, we find out exactly of what we are composed.  As temptations arise, we find ourselves right in the middle of decision time.  Like a medical student at the side of an operating table, we must decide quickly what route we wish to take.

First of all, we need to realize the source of our temptations.  "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God;' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." (James 1:13)  One of the first reactions when one finds himself engulfed in sin is to blame God for the temptation, but here we see that this is not the case at all.  James goes on to tell us exactly where our temptations come from; "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."  (James 1:14)  Temptations do not and cannot originate with God.  They come from our own wants to involve ourselves in these practices.  The one who gives in to sins such as immodesty, dancing, drinking, and drugs does so only because they want that certain "desire" more than they want to please God!  The problem does not lie with what God put on us, but with how much we actually desire to please God.

Concerning temptations, God does not leave us on our own.  He gives us a wonderful promise concerning these situations.  Paul writes, "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."  (1 Cor. 10:13)  Notice that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond that which we are able to take.  He does not tempt us Himself, but will allow us to be tempted.  He does not allow the temptation to be more than we can bear.  What a wonderful promise this is!  By overcoming these temptations we are able to grow, strengthening our faith.  He also provides us with a way of escape.  God promises us that there will never be a temptation to come our way that does not have a way out.  What great comfort that is!  However, the only way that we will recognize these "escape routes" is by studying God's word.

While God is providing us a way of escape, the devil is also fast at work devising a way of escape of his own.  Notice how the Hebrew writer speaks of some of the faithful; "... others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection."  (Hebrews 11:35)  They rejected a deliverance that would have kept them from partaking in the better resurrection.  This was a way out that the devil provided for them.  You see, when temptations and trials arise, Satan will have you stare at the consequences of doing right, not the consequences of doing wrong.  He wants you to see all that you will lose, the things you will suffer, and how easy his way is.  Initially, Satan's "way of escape" will seem quite easy and may require no sacrifice or suffering.  However, as time goes on and the sin blooms fully, one's eyes are opened to the fact that the devil's escape route was not easy at all.  In fact, in the long run it often ends up being far more difficult than standing up for what was right would have been.  Most importantly, if you stay in that sin, Satan's "way of escape" will even cost you your home in Heaven.

When temptations arise, you stand at a fork in the road.  There are two paths you may take: God's way of escape or the devil's way of escape.  Satan's way of escape, at the time, may seem easier with less responsibility, but as one takes that path he quickly realizes that it is one of heartache, losses, and death.  God's way, though it may seem harder at the time, leads to happiness, health and eternal life.  The majority of the world chooses to take Satan's path.  It is a path that is wider and you can see the millions of footprints that have trodden it before you.  In contrast, God's path is the one that is most definitely less traveled.  Fewer people seem to be taking this route; however, it is the only one that leads to Heaven.  Isaiah writes, "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others... the redeemed shall walk there."  (Isaiah 35:8)  Now the choice lies before you.  Which "way of escape" will you take?

-- Aaron Beard