Let Go
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 Corinthians 10:13.
Bryan Allison, who is 24 years old, was watching a video of a 1989 National Hockey League playoff game and became angry once again that his team had lost. In his fit of anger, he picked up his television and tossed it off the second-floor balcony of his home. But Bryan forgot one thing, he forgot to let go of the television soon enough and fell 20 feet to the ground along with his TV!! Bryan was briefly hospitalized in Buffalo, New York and everything is probably fine now except for his pride.
James gives the progression of temptation to sin to death. He says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1:14-15).” When we dwell on an evil tempting thought long enough it eventually will draw us into action and that action is sin. The result of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Romans 13:14 tells us not to make provision for sin, which means in part not to think about how you can gratify your sinful desires. If you plan how you can sin and provide for that sin eventually you will come to a point of action when you will sin.
The writer of Proverbs says, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on (Proverbs 4:14-15).” Temptation often seems to come upon us suddenly and at times can seem overwhelming but it will not be more than we can bear. We do not have to enter the path of wickedness, and we do not have to travel down it. We can turn away and pass on by it. Temptation is like Bryan’s television, if you hold on too long it will pull you down with it. So what must you do? You must let go. You let go by finding the way of escape that God has provided for you.
(Let go of the sin in your life by finding the way of escape.)