Run For Your Life!
Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 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 10:8-13.
In West Virginia, a 19-year-old young woman tried to be safe by parking on the side of the road to make a cell-phone call. However, where she parked was on a railroad track, and as a result, a train struck her car. Her car was shoved off of that track, and onto another track, where she was hit by another train. Thankfully, she did survive this ordeal.
Life has a way of giving us some twists and turns along the way. We may believe we are perfectly safe, when suddenly disaster strikes, just as suddenly as it did for the young woman in West Virginia. Spiritually, we must always be on guard because temptations abound, and take many forms. We must not believe, that we have ever arrived, at a point where we are above the reach of every type and form of temptation. Paul tells us to remember those who have fallen in the past so that we will not make the same mistakes.
Whatever the temptation that comes our way, there has always been some form of it around in the past. What we are facing with the technology of the 21st century, are different forms of the same temptations. The temptations of today, can be overcome in the same way they were overcome in the past. To overcome these temptations, we must find the way of escape. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and with the temptation there will be a way out.
It is unlikely that we will ever be spiritual enough to withstand some temptations, but we can escape. If there is a way of escape, you can be sure that God would have you escape, and not to sin. There is no dishonor in running from sin. There is no dishonor in fleeing temptation. If you are being tempted, and there is a way of escape, take it before it is too late. Don’t sit on the side of the road, and wait for the train to hit you. Run for your life!
(There is no dishonor in running from sin. There is no dishonor in fleeing temptation. If you are being tempted, and there is a way of escape, take it before it is too late. Don’t sit on the side of the road, and wait for the train to hit you. Run for your life!)