No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

This is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible, and I can’t think of a better verse to discuss as I write my final article for the East Main congregation in 2025.  This verse reminds me that I am never alone, not only in the sense that God is with me and is protecting me but also in the sense reminding me that my struggles are not only mine, but ours.  It encourages me to know that an all-powerful God is always on the lookout for me, protecting me from the evil one so that I will never be able to honestly say about my sins and shortcoming, “The devil made me do them.”  This verse gives me hope.

Paul had just reminded the Corinthian saints about the failings of God’s chosen people in the days of Moses, encouraging Christians to not make the same mistakes as they did (10:1-11).  In doing so, he warns, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (10:12).  It is very easy for a faithful child of God to look at the rampant sin and wickedness committed by the lost and the fallen away who are all around him and erroneously conclude that his own sins are quite tame and insignificant by comparison.  “After all,” a Christian might think, “I might be kind of selfish and hot-tempered…but at least I’m not getting drunk and acting very immodest every Saturday night like so many do!  So me and God?  We’re fine.”  The problem is that there very easily could be other Christians who think, “Hey, I might show off some skin in what I wear and yes, I do like to drink and I’ve had more than my share of regrets about things I’ve done while drunk…but at least I’m not cheating on my spouse like so many do!  So me and God?  We’re fine.”  And there are probably others who say, “Yeah, I know adultery is wrong, but God wants me to be happy…and at least I’m not a mass murderer like so many of the people I see on the news!!  So me and God?  We’re fine.”  What’s overlooked by all of us who think in these ways is that we’re still sinning when all is said and done, and “the wages of sin is death” in eternal hell (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 21:8).

All of us sin (Rom. 3:23), and in a general sense all of us face and give in to the same temptations to sin, whatever those sins may be.  “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man…”  So we’re not “better” than anyone else simply because we might curse instead of murder.  We still join countless others in committing the sins we commit, and in the end unrepentant – and thus unforgiven – sins result in loss of eternal life.

Instead of proudly thinking that we are in no danger of falling, God wants us to resist temptation and know that he makes sure that we can always successfully do so…if we choose to do so.  “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  I think of Joseph, who was presented with the opportunity to commit adultery with a willing woman and took God’s “way of escape” in the form of literally running away from her (Gen. 39:6-12).  On the other hand, I think of the young prophet of 1 Kings 13 who was deceived by the older prophet to believe a lie and disobey God, thus choosing to ignore God’s “way of escape” which was to remember and trust what God had actually commanded him.

Brethren, we can “endure” – overcome – any temptation because God’s providence will always give us a real way to do so.  Ultimately, whether we resist temptation or repent of sins we have committed is up to us.

— Jon