The Spirit of Christ is living in us, and the power of God is working through us even in our temptations. We know this because the Bible clearly states, “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, ESV).
I love what Paul says here, that God will provide the way of escape.
We live in a culture today that doesn’t want to believe that Christ is the only way of escape. Oprah has her way of escaping, and Dr. Phil can show you another way of escaping, and a certain clinic can show you their way of escaping; but the Bible doesn’t say Jesus is one of many ways of escaping. Christ clearly states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
When God says that he will provide, is that reminiscent of any Old Testament passage you might have heard before? Do you remember the story of Abraham when he’s climbing the mountain to sacrifice Isaac? He had the faith to say, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). God does indeed provide a sacrifice, “So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’” (Genesis 22:14). This was the same place where Solomon would build the temple of the Lord, where God provided a place for his people to meet with him.
The Israelites throughout the Old Testament would try to meet with God in other places, try to find other ways to escape their troubles, but it never worked for them.
When we finally say, “My sacrifice is not sufficient. My way is not the right one,” and follow God’s way, we will have his provision working in us. No man can be cleansed of sin without Jesus. No woman can live a righteous life without the imputed righteousness of Christ.
You can overcome any temptation in your life right now. You can overcome it because God has provided the way. Our Savior gives us the life we need to live the kind of righteousness that the law of God calls forth.