Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There 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 ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (Passage Link – I Cor. 10:12-14)
In the plush green Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Evidently Eve was told not to even “touch” the fruit (See Gen. 3:2-4) or she would die.
Understand the sequence of Eve’s Temptation…
- TEMPTING
- TOUCHING
- TASTING
- SHAME
- SEPARATION
This sequence reveals the pitfalls of unbridled passion, obsession and fantasizing. Rationalizing there’s no harm in just “thinking” about a wicked act, couldn’t be farther from the truth. One element inevitably will lead to the next. When in the throes of temptation is not the optimal time to set your limit, rather, make up your mind now, while it is sound, without the influence of a power or passion that will so overtake you, that it is too great for even the purest resolve.
The decline is rapid and sure, like a wave crashing into the shore whose undercurrents will draw you deeper and farther than you ever wanted to go. Succumbing to depraved desire for something or someone, or surrendering to an insatiable habit or elicit addiction challenges our true devotion to God which paves the way to idolatry and we’re instructed to “flee from idolatry!”
God will faithfully provide the “way of escape,” but it will be you that must follow the escape plan; the path is clearly marked, but it’s you who must walk it! (Passage Link – Psalm 119:104-106)
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