Exercising the Escape Option
May 20, 2020
After the divorce (20 years ago), I did a lot of soul searching. Why did this happen? What can I do to prevent any future relationships from imploding? Am I a bad person? Am I doomed to make the same mistakes again? In addition to seeing a counselor, I pressed into my faith life because I needed an anchor. I also made some small changes in my life. For example, I switched my reading habits from romance novels to “inspirational” romance novels. That might seem like a tiny thing to you, but for me, it was big and important. The difference between a romance novel and an inspirational romance novel is the difference between Red Bull and Bubly sparkling water. I can fill my mind with visions of un-restraint or I can encourage myself with visions of, at least, some level of restraint. Again, tiny, but important.
There was a heroine in a novel I read who was tempted to have a sexual relationship with her new boyfriend. This is, of course, the universal theme of all romance novels. In the story, she was discussing this temptation with her mentor and the mentor pointed her to this scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV):
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.
There were three things in this passage that stuck with me. One is that the devil uses the same temptations on everyone. There is hope in knowing that you are not alone. The second is that God is faithful and has compassion on mankind, so much so, He promised to provide us with an escape route. An opportunity to step away and make a choice not to give in. And third, I have the inner strength to exercise the escape option. If the Bible says I can do it, then there is absolutely the power within me to take that escape route.
After reading and pondering this passage those many years ago, I started looking for the escape routes that God promised in this passage. And I found this verse to be true in ALL situations. There was a way out provided to me EVERY TIME! Sometimes I saw it in the moment and had the presence of mind or determination to take the way out. Sometimes I saw it and knew it was the escape route, but I didn’t take it. I just went ahead and said or did whatever it was I should have avoided. And I suffered the consequences.
God is compassionate enough to have sent Jesus to provide salvation and forgiveness of sin. Even when I willfully ignored the escape route, I had the option to repent.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
