Being a pastor puts me directly in the path of a lot of things, one of them being excuses. Everyone has an excuse and somehow, we all feel that our sin is, if not justifiable, then certainly it’s understandable. After all, you would have done the same thing in my situation, and you don’t know what it’s like in my circumstances. The Apostle Paul was a master at anticipating objections. He knew the human heart and our tendency to try to justify ourselves. In the midst of his letter to the Corinthians, he anticipates their objections, our objections and he argues in 1 Corinthians 10:13: that

“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.”

Paul masterfully weaves together several elements of doctrine into practical rebuke and comfort all at once. He assures us that, as difficult as our circumstances appear, in the words of Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We are surrounded by brothers and sisters in the Gospel who are able to relate to our circumstances and minister to us. We ought to gain great confidence in the midst of trial knowing that we are surrounded by “such a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). But beyond that, not only are there many brothers and sisters who are able to relate to and minister to us, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christ Himself was not only tempted as we are, but beyond what we will ever be and “yet without sin.” How many of us will ever directly face Satan and the temptation of the kingdoms of the world after 40 days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)? Christ has the paved the road of victory and commanded that we follow in His steps. The key to Paul’s entire argument is found in three little words: God is faithful. We ought to be reminded of God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 15:4-5: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” ⁵And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Just as Paul answered the objections of the Corinthians, God Himself answers Abram’s questions and doubt with the same answer: God is faithful. God commands that several animals be cut in half and the pieces be separated, creating a path. This was a common practice when enacting a covenant. Both parties would pass through the pieces, symbolizing that if one broke the covenant, such would be their fate. What is significant is that Abram does not pass through the pieces. God alone, symbolized in the form of a flaming pot, passes through the pieces, demonstrating to Abram, and to us that He is faithful and will deliver on His Word. As God promised Abram descendents, He promises us victory over sin. In demonstrating just how God is faithful, Paul argues that “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.” We should immediately notice two things. First, we will never be tempted beyond our ability. If you experience great temptation it is because God has already equipped you to handle it. God knows just what we can bear and we will face nothing greater. There is no place in the Christian life to say “I can’t,” because God has promised that through His strength, yes we can. In fact, we must overcome sin. Second, with every temptation, there is “the way of escape.” We often hear people lament that they “had no choice” or that they feel as if they are “in a box.” What we fail to realize when we say such things is that God will not leave us in a situation without escape. God is faithful even when we are not. There is always a way out. This great news also brings with it a sobering reality. When we sin is it only because we choose to do so. We have doubted that God is faithful, we do not believe His Word and we think that we have been tempted beyond our ability, or that He did not provide for us a way of escape. The reality is simply that rather than choose the way of escape, we chose to sin. Our endurance is rooted in God’s faithfulness; our ability to trust Him at His Word. Do you believe that God is faithful? Your bouts with sin ultimately prove the answer to that question much more than your words. Stand strong in Christ, run hard for escape, trust God at His Word, because God is faithful even when we are not. Adapted from Christ and Your Problems by Jay Adams.