Every trial has its escape route

In 1962, the Mariner I space probe was scheduled to travel to Venus and provide information to NASA scientists. It never got there, as it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean four minutes after takeoff. An investigation was launched into the cause for the crash and was later traced to the computer program directing the spacecraft. It turned out that somewhere in the program a single minus sign had been left out.

For some people, living out the basics of the Christian faith isn't exciting enough. Too insignificant. Not brave enough. However, the way a follower of Jesus handles small things, both in attitude and execution, determines to a large extent how they will handle larger things.

We live in a society of wanting more. There is always something else to want, to have, to own, leaving us feeling that there is no such thing as enough, let alone the possibility of having too much. Whatever it is that we have, we believe that we need more.

But while having too much seems enticing, the truth is that it can lead us to consequences just as unpleasant – or worse than – the test of having too little.

This point is driven home when the children of Israel complained that they did not have enough. God didn’t punish their complaining by taking away the blessings they already had; rather He gave them more than they needed. He gave them too much!. There was so much food to eat that the people became sick from it. The point was made – it is possible to have too much.

We all want to win the lottery, but do some research and you will find out that for many lottery winners, dreams turned into nightmares. Having so much money caused the breakdown of marriages, fights between family members, even kidnapping and death. Yes, there most definitely is such a thing as too much.

Sometimes less is really more and what we lack may be our greatest blessing. Trust in God – He will provide exactly what we need.

But while having too much seems enticing, the truth is that it can lead us to consequences just as unpleasant – or worse than – the test of having too little.

  

Let us look at the other side of the coin:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

It stands to reason: if you love health, you're going to hate germs. If you love flowers, you’ll hate weeds. If you love cleanliness, you’ll hate dirt. If you love God, you will hate sin.

And so the Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” What is worldliness? And why should a Christian not love this world?

Three reasons: Number one, because of the character of the world—what it is. Number two, because of the corruption of the world—what it does. Number three, because of the condemnation of the world—where it’s headed.

Not everything in life does the way we would like it. Sometimes we make out okay, other times things just don't seem to work out. In both cases, the Lord is with us, and He wants to help us make the best of things. God has given good things to His children, and when one thing doesn't work out, we can rest assured that something else is soon to come along. When things do work out, we need to remember to give thanks to the one who made it all possible.

Whatever the crisis in your life, God is prepared for it and has made sure you are equipped to endure it. Many other people have experienced exactly what you're going through. Some have made it through victoriously. No matter what the temptation God promised to '...make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV). Every trial has its escape route. They are inseparable. But the devil doesn't want you to know that. Every time you're in the middle of a test, he insists there's no way out.

In this world we can expect hostility and even hatred, for Jesus experienced this from some of those around him. The reason for this is that the world is a place where many do not honor God, trust in his love, or walk in his ways. The world is also a place where Satan, the evil one, is actively at work, seeking to keep people satisfied with anything but the worship of God alone.

Blessings,

Raj Kosaraju