Enduring the Test

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. (I Corinthians 10:13)

This verse is often misread and misunderstood, deliberately, by those of us who don’t like to think about having to bear suffering. That’s practically everyone. We often focus on the part about escape and ignore the “endure it” or “bear it” part.

The apostle helps us with a few things.

1. You are not the only one facing these situations. The devil often tells us that, so we can feel alone, rejected, and defeated. But Peter tells us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (I Peter 5:8-9). You are not alone.

2. Our faithful God will not allow Satan to have the upper hand by pressing us beyond our capacity. We saw that when the accuser came to Yahweh about His faithful servant Job, Yahweh allowed him to test Job but with limitations. Read Job 1:12; 2:6. The truth is, Yah has deposited grace and strength within us, through His Holy Spirit, so that we can overcome (Ephesians 3:16; II Corinthians 12:9).

3. The temptation comes with a way of escape. However, the way of escape is not so we can get out of the situation. It is an incentive for us to hope for, and bear through (endure) the temptation or test. Paul said this about our Lord Yeshua: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [heroes of the faith], let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:1-2.

Why was Yeshua able to bear on? He looked ahead. The way of escape is something to look forwards to so that we can bear the toil, and endure the pain. Just like a student who feels like giving up the long hours of studying and sleepless nights and no food and fun but the prospect of getting those subjects or that degree makes him/her bear on.

I encourage you to hold on in your suffering. Look ahead, for better is on before. Let me also encourage you with the words of this hymn by Horatius Bonar.

Go, labor on: spend, and be spent,

Thy joy to do the Father’s will:

It is the way the Master went;

Should not the servant tread it still?

Go, labor on! ‘tis not for naught

Thine earthly loss is heavenly gain;

Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;

The Master praises: what are men?

Go, labor on! enough, while here,

If He shall praise thee, if He deign

The willing heart to mark and cheer:

No toil for Him shall be in vain.

Go, labor on! Your hands are weak,

Your knees are faint, your soul cast down;

Yet falter not; the prize you seek

Is near—a kingdom and a crown.

Go, labor on while it is day:

The world’s dark night is hastening on;

Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away;

It is not thus that souls are won.

Men die in darkness at thy side,

Without a hope to cheer the tomb;

Take up the torch and wave it wide,

The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.

Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray,

Be wise the erring soul to win;

Go forth into the world’s highway,

Compel the wanderer to come in.

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice!

For toil comes rest, for exile home;

Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom’s voice,

The midnight peal, “Behold, I come!”

Walk Good!

(2016 April 27)

(All Scripture passages are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise stated.)