“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, NIV)
For my Bachelor’s Degree, I completed a triple major in Literature, Philosophy and Psychology. I was accepted into an Honors Program for Liberal Arts students. Classes were small with 8-10 students. We studied world literature, philosophy and theology. One class stands out: “Modern Day Theology and Existentialism.” We read many famous twentieth century authors including Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Søren Kierkegaard, Martin Buber, and Paul Tillich.
Reading this verse I’m reminded of No Exit, a 1944 play by Sartre, a French existentialist. The original title Huis Clos or In Camera is a reference to a private discussion behind closed doors. English performances carried the title No Way Out or Dead End. The play depicts the afterlife in which three individuals are brought to a room in hell and locked in this room for eternity. In one scene, a character proclaims, “L’enfer, c'est les autres” which means “Hell is other people.” Clearly, Sartre wrote about life as he saw it in the world.
As a Christian, I’m comforted by Paul’s words in the verse above. He tells us Christians always have a way out. God always gives us an exit. God is faithful and He never abandons us. He is always reaching out with a key to our cell and all we have to do is take it. He will always give us strength, determination, and anointing to escape every trial and test. But first, we must call on Him.
Child of God, no temptation is beyond your ability. With Christ, you can endure and pass every test. Yes, Satan wants you to think “There is no exit; no way out of this situation.” But, he is a liar. Sartre’s characters believed Satan’s lies. They lived a life of sin that led to eternal torment in hell. Forget Sartre’s claims. Hell is not other people; it is eternal damnation and separation from God. I encourage you to trust God and discover that through Jesus Christ there is always a way out!
Lord, thank you for your love and faithfulness. Jesus, I will trust in you and in your Word knowing you will always provide a way out. Through the blood of Jesus and in the name of Jesus I pray, amen
