God will always give an escape route to free us from impending temptation. If we ignore the escape route, we will most certainly fall into sin. Recollect a time when you regretted getting involved in something you should not have been involved in. I am certain you can also find the moment you chose to ignore the quiet voice that told you to leave, run, go in another direction, do not enter… The quiet voice was God speaking to you offering an escape route.

Thanks to God’s loving kindness. We received freedom from reaping the horror of permanent sin when He sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross taking on our sin to give us a way out.

Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

When Christ died on the cross, he took all sin, past, present, and future. We are not bound by eternal sin. And, in the face of temptation and its cohort, sin, God always provides an escape route.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Scriptures About Temptation

Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 14:38 – Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil (sin), and he will flee from you.

James 1:12-16 – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth (metaphorical, and perhaps physical) death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Hebrews 2:18 – For because He himself (Christ) has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes (temptation, sin) of the evil one (often your own desire).

Matthew 4:1-11 – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But He answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The Word of God provides the escape route from temptation. Temptation is a carnal want that leads to our sinful nature. Temptation glistens, smiles, seeks illicit things that cause you to feel good in the dark, never in the light. It is the final step into the dark. The escape is most prominent in that moment, turn away, run…

Learning to identify the families of temptation creates an awareness of how sin creeps into your life. Paul defined them in Galatians 5:19-20 (AMP). This is not an exhaustive list.

“Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies-any believe that is against the word of God], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these.”

Temptation always comes before a fall (carnal desires/sin). Temptation always precedes sin. We should praise God that He established an escape route (through the crucifixion of Christ, the taking on of sin), providing a redemption route (repentance/forgiveness), and saving us when we sin (acting in our carnal nature). To quote Donnie McClurkin’s lyrics, We Fall Down but Get Back Up. How will you apply this study to your life? Will you listen to God’s quiet voice and run or flee, or will you ignore his warning to satisfy your human condition?

This diagram provides a pictorial of your options.

What can we learn from the diagram?

The attack begins with a thought. The thought focuses on the temptation. During this time your mind weighs the choice to listen to God and run from the temptation, or run to the temptation. If you run from the temptation you will know the escape route the Lord has provided. If you choose to run towards the temptation, you will become quickly consumed by the sin and start to ignore the quiet voice of the Lord. But, most people hear bits of His quiet voice, and eventually repent of your sin. God at once responds in love and provides the escape route. There are consequences embedded in the sin itself. Satan will not make it easy to escape, he wants us to suffer during and after we sinned. It is so much better to guard your heart, listen to the Lord’s quiet voice, and seek the escape route that God provides than to fall into the darkness of sin.

Please note, not all sin is attributed to Satan. Our nature is corrupt. It seeks gratification at all costs. Sin offers the things that you crave most. Temptation is a gateway drug tempting you to ignore God.

Scriptures – Bible.com; Diagram – Lisa Blair; Image – lifehopeandtruth.com