In the book of Corinthians, there is a verse that clearly reveals that whenever we are tempted, God will provide a way of escape.
1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
NKJV
The way of escape is the title of this book taken from this verse. While this verse is not an 'end times' verse, it speaks of how deeply God cares for us. He loves us so much, He doesn’t want to leave us without a way of escape when it comes to something as simple as a temptation, which honestly, is probably an everyday occurrence in the life of someone who believes and follows Jesus.
In terms of life's stressful events, being tempted could be a stressful event. While we don't think of temptation as a stressful event, if we give in to it, it could become a stressful event. Many times, we don't think thru the events or we wouldn't give in to temptation nearly as much. Temptation is not usually a huge stress, unless someone gives in to a major temptation and is left with the damages that they inflicted. That can become stressful. If a man breaks his marriage vows and his wife divorces him, and there's children involved, that would be an example of a temptation leading to major stress events in life. But usually when we think of these, we think of a 'small event', we're tempted to gossip, to say something about somebody, we're tempted to not say something good, and we miss the opportunity to say something good, or to encourage somebody. Those are temptations. Life would be much better if we realized the seemingly small things in our lives really make up the majority of our lives. Stop for a moment, reread that and think about that last sentence. When we think of following God, of changing our lives, and new choices, it's actually in the small, seemingly insignificant decisions that we make every day, even every hour. To help you think about some of the more important concepts in this book, and in most of my teachings, I will use Life Lessons. These are literally lessons for life. Those are things you want to read, reread, and stop and consider or think about.
Life Lesson
Life would be much better, if we realized the seemingly small things in our lives really make up the majority of our lives.
Let me share another verse that speaks of escape. We will spend some time digging in the scriptures and finding gold nuggets, great pearls, and diamonds of truth. When Jesus is speaking about end times events and the Great Tribulation in Luke 21, He speaks of an escape. In the midst of a dark passage, Jesus shares a ray of hope. He gives a way out, an escape.
Luke 21:36
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
NKJV
There is no other way to interpret this passage. Jesus is speaking of destruction, fires, famines, earthquakes, then He gives them incredible hope. Not hope to be ok in the midst of it, not for protection in the midst. Jesus knowingly gives us hope for a way to escape.
Jesus knowingly gives us hope for a way to escape.
Together let's find out more about this way to escape all these things that are coming.
Life Lesson
Life would be much better, if we realized the seemingly small things in our lives really make up the majority of our lives.
I want to encourage you to not only read this book but let it be your map. Your map to begin to draw closer to God. Begin to follow God in the little things and watch how drastically your life changes. Wait to change in the big ways and you may wait long and be unsuccessful. God knows this and tells us. He tells us to be faithful in the small things or the few things and God will take care of the rest.
Matt 25:21
21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
NKJV
Matt 25:23
23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
NKJV
Do what you can do and leave what you can't do, up to God. This is another one to stop and consider.
Life Lesson
Do what you can do and leave what you can't do, up to God.
This is not a book you just speed through. You can, but you will miss some of the awesome opportunities to become more knowledgeable, and be more at peace and to grow spiritually. You may want to read through it slowly the first time. Then the second time, go even slower, being sure to read all the scriptures and even looking up scriptures on your own. Perhaps you look up other verses and cross references. The more you read the Bible, the more your faith will grow.
Rom 10:17
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NKJV
We tend to believe what we hear. That is why we need to be careful what we listen to. I spoke with one person who hardly read their Bible, watched four nightly news programs and wanted to know why were they anxious? What happened to their peace? Why did God take away the peace? God did not take it, it was given away. Read the verses out loud and you will be please and amazed. Share these verses with others. The more you read the Bible, the more your peace will grow. The more you read the Bible, the more you will grow. Reading the Bible is always time well spent. When you mature spiritually, you become even less likely to give away your peace. Your peace, as a born again Christian** was bought at a price.
1 Cor 6:20
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
NKJV
1 Cor 7:23
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
NKJV
Life Lessons
The more you read the Bible, the more you will grow.
The more you read the Bible, the more your faith will grow.
The more you read the Bible, the more your peace will grow.
Being 'bought at a price' means we were saved and redeemed or purchased by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. So we belong to God. The way we look at end times and prophecy changes whether we are looking at the Bible through the eyes of a believer or the eyes of an unbeliever. What happens to us eternally, changes with us being a believer or unbeliever. By someone that believes, I don't mean someone that has never had a doubt. Theologically, that person is called a 'liar'. We have all had doubts. We can even be believing and yet doubting. It is not a strong faith or the goal, but doubt and faith can occupy the same space. A person can have faith and still have doubts.
Mark 9:23-24
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
NKJV
So we see a person walking in faith and at the same time, doubt. This is not the goal, it is not the optimal or the best situation, but it is a start. You may have faith and yet have doubts about the end times. You believe and yet you doubt. As you read and reread this book, your faith will begin to grow and grow. That’s why it is even more important for you to read all these scriptures out loud if at all possible. Feed your faith. Starve your doubts. Jesus wants us to grow in our faith.
Matt 14:31
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
NKJV
So when there is faith and doubt present, it reveals that there is little faith. Our goal, both in this book, and in life, is to grow as a Christian, it is to grow in our faith.
Mark 11:23
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
NKJV
Life Lesson
Believe your faith. Doubt your doubts. Grow in your faith.
So growing in our faith and trusting of God, is knowing what we can of God's plan and believing it. Also, where we can, we become a part of God's plan.
So, is God going to take something, or better yet, someone, that He loves and purchased and abandon that someone? Will God abandon that person, that He purchased with the shed blood of His Son? Will God abandon His people to the incredible and intense wrath of God being poured out during 7 year Great Tribulation? There are two biblical definitions of the word 'tribulation'. One is the word tribulation, used as a word for a trial or a time of testing. The Bible and Jesus used that word here.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
NKJV
The other way this word is used, is to describe a specific time, the 7 year Tribulation period.
Matt 24:21
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
NKJV
There are all sorts of theories about the Great Tribulation. Some have to be described completely by a man to see it in scripture. That is not a good place to be. We should be able to see from scriptures what the future holds. We will look only at the Bible. I will not quote a lot of other books or other authors. I will show through scripture that…
It will begin with the pre-tribulation rapture.
Then the 7 year Tribulation period.
Then the 2nd Coming of Christ.
Judgment of Unbelievers, or Great White Throne Judgment.
Then Christ ruling here on earth during the Millennial Reign.
Then a new heaven and a new earth.
Then we enter into eternity.
These three events, are the three most important events and the next three events by almost any believers account, although perhaps they think in a different order.
Please read through each scripture so you can understand it. Better yet, read each one out loud. I know you may feel a little strange doing that at first. That will be replaced by a growing faith. You see…
Rom 10:17
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NKJV
**By the way, when we use the word Christian, we mean born-again Christian. There is no other kind of Christian than a born again Christian. This is what Jesus says in John 3:3
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NKJV
The truth of John 3:3 becomes a Bible Study Tip. Something that is important to understand about the Bible. I will probably say something along the way that may be politically insensitive. I may not be politically correct. Well, I am not politically correct. That is not my goal. My goal is to be scripturally accurate, not to be politically correct.
Bible Study Tip
Jesus said in John 3:3 that there is no other kind of Christian, than a born again Christian.
Is it really important to read these verses out loud?
Yes, it will help you, strengthen you, enlighten you, give you hope, give you knowledge, offer you forgiveness and eternal life. Again we think of the huge things in terms of growing our faith but it is usually the seemingly small things that grow our faith. Reading our Bible out loud. Talking to others about our God story. Giving from any financial increase God has blessed us with. Serving in ministry in our churches. The kind of ministry and service you need to commit to and schedule with. Doing small things, like saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Being nice. Loving God.
