Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Escape (01/02/06)
-
TITLE: Tragic Desertion | Previous Challenge Entry
By Carol Adams
01/05/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Escape is a powerful word. It denotes the act of getting away or fleeing. We are a world that tries to rid ourselves of pain using many different means. Is the word “escape” bad? Of course not! How many times have we left our busy lives and escaped to a safe retreat to clear our thoughts? We can escape through writing, reading, sports, a bicycle ride, gardening or watching a movie. In these cases, an escape is a temporary relief.
Today more than ever, we take flight through the use of drugs, alcohol, pornography, and affairs. These are the things that touch us where we live. We know of people, friends and family, who make the headlines when this has occurred in their lives. I have asked the question many times in my life, “why?” What have we done wrong as a society or as a Christian, or as a church where these facts bombard us? Where have we failed?
In I Corinthians 10:12, we are told that whoever thinks he stands strong let him take heed because he may fall into that same type of sin. There isn’t one person alive that it could not happen to. We are frail, we are human, and yet amongst Christians we are crumbling. How my heart grieves when another is pulled away through lustful desires to have something or someone else meet the pull in their heart rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are always “running” into someone else’s arms or running away from our pain to numb ourselves by using drugs, alcohol or other things. Why aren’t we running to the Lord Jesus Christ?
I think it can be said with assurance –we have failed. I must be an idealist to think that Jesus could be the only answer we need. The scriptures tell us that when He died, He died for every sin that has ever been committed past, present and future. He was tempted, but did not sin. If we believe the Bible, we know that we died in Him. When He was crucified, we were also. When He was buried and rose to new life, so were we. We are containers – His containers! How can we who walk in newness of life, go back under the old dominion of sin again? Yes, of course, we still have sinful passions and urges. That’s a fact! So we tell ourselves that we must give in to our passions. No, the Christ in us tells us to put to death those passions. We are under a new master, Christ. We are His slaves and a slave does what the Master requires. We have switched or exchanged masters. We no longer follow the heartbeat of our father, Satan. We now are sons and daughters of our King, Jesus.
Romans 8:8, 9 tell us that “those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Escape! To the freedom we have in Christ. Run to Him, He gives us unlimited resources to fight our earthly battles. He never abandons us. He is in us. We contain Him in our lives. So whatever we do – drugs, alcohol, pornography, marital affairs or any unholy living we run that through Jesus Christ literally. Can you imagine, a holy Christ being defiled by our sinful passions?
I Corinthians 10:13[NLT], tells us that we have hope when the temptations comes. It says, “But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way (escape) out so that you will not give in to it.”
Our biggest problem is that we never run to Him because we want to indulge in our sinful passions. We justify it because we want it! The above verses tell us He has a plan and a way out. That alone should be our Great Escape!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Excellent use of Scripture to point out hope and error.
This statement sums up our struggles very well: "Our biggest problem is that we never run to Him because we want to indulge in our sinful passions. We justify it because we want it!" And then we realize our nakedness, like Adam and Eve did when they sensed God's Presence, and are ashamed!
This is a very good essay on the condition of the Christian heart.
Your opening paragraph, however, led me to believe that you were going to talk exclusively about extramarital affairs in the church. Then you described other things that pulled us away from the Lord. This paragraph should somehow be restated to address this concern.
Good and much-needed lesson for the Body of Christ!