Off at the Next "Exit"

It was another afternoon's commute just like all the others. Or so it started out. God, as He often does, uses things around us to teach spiritual lessons and today would be one of those days. The highway traffic was moving fairly well in what was a pleasant drive, and as I prepared for the exit ramps that would take me home, the lesson went off in my being. Exit ramps along every highway were absolutely important; without them we would end up in places we didn't intend, and if we were headed in the wrong direction, there would be no way to get off in order to find alternate ways to turn around.

In that moment I was reminded of Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians: "There 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" (1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV). The word translated "temptation" means "solicitation to do evil", and presents the picture of the believer being solicited (courted, romanced, wooed) to go against God and the things of God by the Adversary. However, isn't it comforting to know that God, in His sovereignty, not only knew that as we navigated through this life there would be all kinds of solicitations along the way, but He lovingly and graciously made provisions along the way for us to escape?

As I meditated on this, it occurred to me that the "way to escape" was God's exit ramp. These are not ramps that like exits ramps on an airplane we hope not to use, but God places them there because He knows that despite our best effors to walk in His ways, from time to time we will need to use them. As believers we are not immune to the temptations "common to man"; we are just as prone to demonstrating the fruit of the flesh as we yield to the Adversary's romancing (see Galatians 5:19-21). Our Heavenly Father knows that we do not always avail ourselves of His sustaining grace, and so while our testings may be equal to our abilities to bear them, we often find ourselves headed in the wrong direction. His "exit ramps" assures us that we can escape before we give in, but if we do give in they also provide ways for us to get out so we can get turned around and headed back in the right direction.

We can only stand in awe of God's love and care. "Like as a father pitieth [H]is children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear [H]im. For [H]e knoweth our frame; [H]e remembereth that we are dust" (Psalm 103:13-14, KJV). Are you making use of your exit ramps, or are you speeding contentedly along in the wrong direction?