No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
What people fear most about New Year’s resolutions are future temptations. After all, what causes relapses in bad behavior more than the seduction of old passions? The anticipation of coming situations, with very particular women, fills one man with dread. A woman thinks she’ll resist chocolate today, but the time will come when chocolate triumphs. Temptation. Is it possible to have certainty that they can be consistently resisted and overcome, today, tomorrow, and permanently? God promises this very thing.
In fact, He promises four things:
1. No temptation will be “uncommon.”
2. God will be faithful when temptation comes.
3. He will not allow any irresistible temptations.
4. With every temptation, IN ADVANCE, he will make a way of escape or resistance.
Now if people really believed this, then no future situation or anticipation of temptation would cause any anxiety at all! They would know that no temptation experienced in the past, present, OR FUTURE is unique or new. They would know that God is with them and trustworthy. They would know that Satan, the Tempter, is under God’s control; and that each temptation Satan tailor makes for each person has a God placed limitation, so that it will never be impossible to resist; or even too hard to resist.
God has promised this. Future temptations against New Year’s Resolutions need not be feared!
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